February 29, 2012

Leap Year 4-Miler race report

It's 8:16 PM and I just got home from my race. What a crappy day for a race, too! It's been SUPER foggy and raining all day. I suckered Renee and Alicia into doing the race with me, so they came to my house at 5:30 and I drove us to the race.

I was shocked at how many people were there! I thought this was going to be a small race of about 50 people or so, but there were probably more like 500 people. We got our sweatshirts, glow necklaces(!!) and timing tags for our shoes and then we went to get in line for the bathroom--there was a really long line, and only ONE stall. I decided I could hold it, so I went back to the car to drop off my shirt.

Jerry got out of work at 6:00, and the race was starting at 6:30, so he actually came to watch me (despite the fact that it was raining). I had him take a picture of us before the race, but it was so foggy that the fog showed up as white droplets on the picture:
Me, Alicia, and Renee
I tried to get a picture of the back of my shirt, but that didn't work out so well...
We got in the starting line and before I knew it, the race started and we were off. It got dark right at the start of the race, so we were running in the dark the whole time. It was kind of cool (but kind of not cool at the same time). It was still drizzling rain, and there were puddles that we couldn't see until we stepped in them.

The first mile went by pretty quickly, but I felt like I was running faster than I actually was. And then the second mile seemed to take FOREVER, probably because I knew that I wasn't even halfway done. I wasn't hoping for an unrealistic time, but in the back of my mind I was thinking I'd like to finish sub-36:00, which would be 8:59/mi or faster.

My feet were completely soaked by mile three. At about 2.5 miles in, there was an out-and-back part of the route...
I love the out-and-back routes, because you can see the people who are ahead of you when they are running toward you. I was looking for Renee and Alicia (both faster than me) but it was too dark and I couldn't see anything!

That last mile seemed really long because I was trying to pick up speed, but I just didn't have it in me. When I saw my time, I knew that my sub-26:00 5K goal for next weekend is no longer a possibility. My "unofficial" time stats:
I finished in 35:17, so I was happy with that. But with an 8:54 pace, I really have doubts about running an 8:20 pace for my 5k. But judging by my heart rate today, I think I pushed myself pretty hard.

And a post-race photo (not that it's much different from the pre-race photo!):
Well, I knocked one race off my list of six in the next 12 weeks ;)  Oh, and I got my sweatshirt (which, I admit, was the whole reason that I registered for this race!)
Now, I'm going to eat some graham crackers with peanut butter and chocolate chips before bed.



ETA: I got the official race results...
Chip time: 35:15  (8:49/mi pace)
Overall place:  149/394
Age group: 8/33

36 comments:

  1. Congrats! You did great. Love the shirt!

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  2. Congrats! You did great. Love the shirt!

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  3. Congrats on the race! I'm sorry it wasn't a better day for it but you still rocked your shirt babydoll!

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  4. Way to go! What a fun race!

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  5. I think it is an amazing time for so late in the day. Positive thoughts, you can do it!

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  6. Great job. I totally would have signed up for the sweatshirt lol. I walked 3 miles today, which I haven't done in like FOREVER and my hips are sore. I'm taking tomorrow off and walking again Friday. I have to start somewhere. My eating was terrible today though :-(

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    1. A rest day or two always makes me feel better too. That's great you got out there and walked!

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  7. Great job.. I love the shirt also.

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  8. Congrats! I think its amazing that your doing 6 races in 12 weeks! I'm just trying for 12 in 12months.

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  9. Your making me think that even if I walk most of it... I really should register for the Emperor's Challenge which is a half marathon through a mountain pass this summer. (I'm still fairly big and don't want to ruin my knees!)

    Thanks for the inspiration, I look forward to reading your posts every night before bed... helps me on my weightloss journey!!

    Shelley

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    1. Shelley, you can do it!! Just make absolutely CERTAIN that you train for it--even if you're going to walk the entire thing. When I walked my first half-marathon, I didn't train and it was awful. But the following year, even though I had gained 40ish pounds, I trained for it and had a much better experience. I think you should go for it! (Hal Higdon has a great half marathon training program for walkers: http://halhigdon.com/training/51134/Half-Marathon-Walk-Training-Program

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    2. Katie, thanks for sharing that site. Glad I saw it! I found a half marathon 45 minutes away for June. I've been thinking of registering for it. I'm going to take a look at the training and see if it's doable. I'm still in the Morbidly Obese category (only for 1.8lbs more). By June I'm hoping I can be down 30-40 more lbs.

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  10. I know anytime I've walked in a 5k that my husband was running in it was for the shirt! : ) It's on my 30x30 list though to actually RUN in a 5k! I turn 29 on Saturday and I've lost 10 lbs. So I think I'll have plenty of time to drop some more weight and train REALLY well for one before I'm 30. : )

    www.willbeskinnyernie.blogspot.com

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    1. You've got plenty of time! I wrote a 30x30 list when I was a few months shy of 29, and included on it was "Enter and RUN a 5k race"... but I never really believed I'd actually do it!

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  11. Katie...
    You are such a total stud! Way to go on your 4 mile run.. I wish I had that kind of time on my running. I'm SLOOOOOW... BTW, I like the new shirt! Thank you for sharing all successes and battles with us. I look forward to reading your daily updates. Plus when you responded to my email I was so STOKED! I called all my friends that I had told about your blog and said "Katie actually had time to respond to my email!" It was like talking to a celebrity. SERIOUSLY. You inspire me, more than you'd ever know. Keep Kickin' ASS and taking names! You're awesome!
    -Mandy

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    1. Thanks so much Mandy! Believe me, I am nowhere NEAR celebrity status, even in the blog world ;) But I'm glad you are enjoying the blog. Keep on running!

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    2. I feel exactly the same way!! When one of my comments got mentioned in an earlier blog (guessing the peanut butter amount), I had to text all of my GFs! You're a celebrity to me, too, Katie!

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  12. Katie,
    I think you still can hit your goal for your 5k! For one it is different energy in a night vs morning run and two I am sure it is hard to run in soaked sneakers!!!!

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  13. Great job! I'm so glad you're happy with you run and gave it your all. Looks cold out too! I hope you have a great racing season and keep us updated on each one! Do you ever get nervous while you're waiting for the start gun? Or are you just all pro now :)

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    1. I always get SO SO nervous before a race. Even for the first mile, my stomach is in knots and I feel like I'm choking from the nerves! Which is stupid, because what is there to be nervous about?!

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  14. What a fun run! (Not the weather conditions but the idea!) WooHoo...Congrats!

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  15. Great job!! Hope you quickly warmed up & dried out! :)

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  16. Wow that looks like fun! I'm happy you had a great time. Reminds me of how I want to do another race. I've only done a 5k. That was last summer.

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  17. Thanks for the link to the training site for walking a half marathon. I've been giving some thought to trying that. I was thinking aout signing up for our local marathon, but it is full already, and doesn't even take place until May. Oh well--I'll train and maybe get signed up for it next year. I wonder how many walkers there are? Are there many people who walk the Indy Half Marathon? I wouldn't want to be the only one walking!

    Katie--You ARE a Celebrity. Face it--you've been on Dr. Oz, and in the newspaper and tons of people read your great blog. You inspire and motivate all of us. That should help with book sales, when you finally get around to publishing that memoir of yours!!

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  18. Congrats! I love your shirt, that is so cool. :)

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  19. I never have the same energy late in the day like I have in the morning, so you definitely might pull out a sub-26:00 5k. It's also different knowing you have to run another mile, so you need to reserve some energy, no? Plus, you'll be able to see where you're going (assuming the 5k is in the morning) so you won't be as trepidatious with every footfall.

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  20. My BF and I are about to sign up for our first 5K (well, for me, first one in YEARS - I used to run them a lot when I was younger with my dad). I'm soooo slooooww and have a LONG way to go, but am excited about doing a 5K and training for more races to come!

    Funny about the celebrity thing - I emailed you a couple months ago and you replied back pretty quickly and I was like "oh yay!" My BF was like "that's so cool, she actually emailed you back...she's like a celebrity" :) Which you totally are! Such an inspiration.

    I had a question I was going to ask you, and now I can't remember what I was going to ask. Hm. Oh well, if I think of it, I'll just email ya :)

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  21. Great job on the run! Sounds like so much fun!! You never know what will happen with the 5K. Running at night time is so much different than the morning, so you still might get your sub-26.

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  22. Katie,

    Super job on the race! Racing in any way, shape, or form intimidates me. :) I think I need a partner in crime.

    I have a reader's question for you to consider for Sunday -
    How many reader emails do you average a day?

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  23. Congrats! I admire your tenacity especially in that weather.

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  24. I just noticed there is another Ness that replies to your posts. I am Ness at www.dachshundstrong.blogspot.com I am a lover of dachshunds and my last 4 dachsies have been rescues so that explains part of the blog name and my 26 year old son is a 1st Lt (soon to be Captain) in the Army and their motto when he was commissioned was Army STRONG so that is the second part of my blog name. I am down to 1 dachshund(they all lived to be 16) and now have a chihuahua. He is a one pet dog so won't be rescuing any more dachsies until he mellows. I love this blog and have committed to start walking/jogging the track at the high school. My Army son is coaching me. I used to walk a 13 minute mile....I'll be lucky now to crawl the track in 3 days. :-)

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  25. Congrats! Sub 36 is awesome! I'm very impressed that you ran in the icky weather. That's when you know you're a die-hard! I agree that you could still get it. I am significantly faster in morning runs than afternoon or evening runs! Good luck!

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  26. I just found your blog as I was searching for other peoples' photos/race reports from the Leap Year 4 miler yesterday. I was there! I just wanted to say hi because you remind me so much of myself it is crazy. I mostly run so that I can eat more junk too :) And then I saw you went home and ate graham crackers with PB and chocolate chips which is one of my staple sweet tooth fixes and I fell in love. I will keep an eye out for you at future races, and will DEFINITELY be following your blog from now on!

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  27. Woohoo, Katie! Looks at you gals, all smiles even with the yuck weather. Kerri, myself, and our hubbies did an night time 8k a few years ago and I had snowflakes frozen onto my silly socks afterwards.

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  28. Nice job!! I just subscribed to your blog, now that I know you're another local runner. What are races are you doing soon?

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I used to publish ALL comments (even the mean ones) but I recently chose not to publish those. I always welcome constructive comments/criticism, but there is no need for unnecessary rudeness/hate. But please--I love reading what you have to say! (This comment form is super finicky, so I apologize if you're unable to comment)

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