Joined
·
7,887 Posts
I got an e-mail from Run Big, a Clydesdale runner's club in Chicago, about a race that was happening today. They had just put in a Clydesdale division for this year's race and Run Big wanted to make sure some Clydes actually came out, so it wouldn't get pulled. I wanted to race this weekend; originally, I planned on doing the last race in the a local race circuit tomorrow, but I have that Clyde division on lock, so it didn't matter if I did it or not. I decided to help out especially since the Clydesdale head really wanted to make sure her name and 10K time of 1hr+ didn't wind up as women's Clyde record as it would be printed all over next year's brochure, plus with the local circuit race tomorrow most runners (Clydes included) would likely not come.<br><br>
So, my mission was to break 1 hour which I have never done and make sure we didn't look too bad. Another glitch was that I'm 135 which is the bottom weight for women and I was hoping I didn't wind up weighing in as like 134 or something and then my 1 hour 10 minute journey to the boonies would be in vain.<br><br>
It was around 33 degrees when I got to the race site for registration. I had on my <span style="color:#008000;"><b>Maria</b></span> shorts and a long-sleeved wicking shirt (which I had magically and fortunately found in the back seat of my car) over a short-sleeved one. I went to the registration table and the head of Run Big was there, but she doesn't really know me by sight, so she was telling a woman at the table about Clydesdale divisions and the other woman was remarking how she was 130 and couldn't imagine 135 being a larger runner weight. Heh.<br><br>
Then I go over to weigh-in and there are two scales. I get on the first scale and it says 131.5 and I'm like "That's not even possible, I just weighed myself the other day." So, she offers me the other scale which reads 135.0. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"><br><br>
Then I waited shivering in my car and watched people with way more clothing on than me mill about or warm up. I had a conversation in my head about how I really had no idea how I was going to run a 9:39 for 6 miles. 9:39 pace would give me a 59:59. I was really nervous and hungry and just wanted to get this thing over with.<br><br>
Fast forward and it's time to line up. I am freezing, but the sun is starting to shine and it's helping a little bit. This was a gun time race and I feel like I've been racing long enough to not line up at the very back and I needed all the help I could get to break the hour mark, so I positioned myself kinda midway. I was still nervous because the people around me looked kinda sorta fast and I hoped I wouldn't annoy them too much if they did turn out to be really fast.<br><br>
We got a pre-race talk about watching for cars (not a closed course) and then, we were off.<br><br>
I'm passing people. People are passing me. After a while, I feel the amount of effort I'm putting in and I tell myself that I gotta slow down, this is not a 5K and right now, I'm running like it is, so I pull back a little.<br><br>
We start coming around to the 1 mile marker and I can hear the marshal up ahead saying x:53, x:54...I can't tell what the x part is and assume it's like 9 which is bad, real bad. I finally get nearly to him and he says 8:54! Holy schnickes! I can't believe I ran that fast after I made a conscious effort to slow down. I so rock! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/headbang.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headbang"><br><br>
So, I'm feeling pretty good about myself, not worrying to much about the rest of the race. I figure even if I crash and burn, if I bank enough time in the early miles, I could still probably eek out something under an hour.<br><br>
Mile 2 - Around 9:0x pace. Slowed down a bit. Not too concerned.<br>
Mile 3 - Around 9:1x pace. Oh boy, the trend continues.<br>
Mile 4 - I feel not so good. Things are tightening up. My breathing is getting a little ragged. I was still doing a good enough pace though.<br>
Mile 5 - Urgh, keeping my speed up is getting to be real hard. I'm getting passed...a lot.<br>
Mile 5.2ish - I have 10 whole minutes to get to the finish and still break an hour. I'm feeling like crap, but I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.<br>
For the last 0.2, I kick it up a notch and almost sprint past a girl before being scolded about going single file into the chute, but the girl was practically jogging towards it. I was a little miffed.<br><br>
Final time - 57:33.1!!!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="cheers"> A 9:17 pace!!!!!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/surprised.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Surprised"><br><br>
I had no idea I could do that. And to top it off, I came in first in the combined women's AB Clyde category and I was the second female Clyde overall. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> I think that's a good way to end my last year as a Clyde. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"><br><br>
My trophy...<br><img alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/nettiedgreat/RzY_nbdnpsI/AAAAAAAAA2E/f-KOMh7MX74/s400/DSC00362.JPG" style="border:0px solid;">
So, my mission was to break 1 hour which I have never done and make sure we didn't look too bad. Another glitch was that I'm 135 which is the bottom weight for women and I was hoping I didn't wind up weighing in as like 134 or something and then my 1 hour 10 minute journey to the boonies would be in vain.<br><br>
It was around 33 degrees when I got to the race site for registration. I had on my <span style="color:#008000;"><b>Maria</b></span> shorts and a long-sleeved wicking shirt (which I had magically and fortunately found in the back seat of my car) over a short-sleeved one. I went to the registration table and the head of Run Big was there, but she doesn't really know me by sight, so she was telling a woman at the table about Clydesdale divisions and the other woman was remarking how she was 130 and couldn't imagine 135 being a larger runner weight. Heh.<br><br>
Then I go over to weigh-in and there are two scales. I get on the first scale and it says 131.5 and I'm like "That's not even possible, I just weighed myself the other day." So, she offers me the other scale which reads 135.0. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"><br><br>
Then I waited shivering in my car and watched people with way more clothing on than me mill about or warm up. I had a conversation in my head about how I really had no idea how I was going to run a 9:39 for 6 miles. 9:39 pace would give me a 59:59. I was really nervous and hungry and just wanted to get this thing over with.<br><br>
Fast forward and it's time to line up. I am freezing, but the sun is starting to shine and it's helping a little bit. This was a gun time race and I feel like I've been racing long enough to not line up at the very back and I needed all the help I could get to break the hour mark, so I positioned myself kinda midway. I was still nervous because the people around me looked kinda sorta fast and I hoped I wouldn't annoy them too much if they did turn out to be really fast.<br><br>
We got a pre-race talk about watching for cars (not a closed course) and then, we were off.<br><br>
I'm passing people. People are passing me. After a while, I feel the amount of effort I'm putting in and I tell myself that I gotta slow down, this is not a 5K and right now, I'm running like it is, so I pull back a little.<br><br>
We start coming around to the 1 mile marker and I can hear the marshal up ahead saying x:53, x:54...I can't tell what the x part is and assume it's like 9 which is bad, real bad. I finally get nearly to him and he says 8:54! Holy schnickes! I can't believe I ran that fast after I made a conscious effort to slow down. I so rock! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/headbang.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="headbang"><br><br>
So, I'm feeling pretty good about myself, not worrying to much about the rest of the race. I figure even if I crash and burn, if I bank enough time in the early miles, I could still probably eek out something under an hour.<br><br>
Mile 2 - Around 9:0x pace. Slowed down a bit. Not too concerned.<br>
Mile 3 - Around 9:1x pace. Oh boy, the trend continues.<br>
Mile 4 - I feel not so good. Things are tightening up. My breathing is getting a little ragged. I was still doing a good enough pace though.<br>
Mile 5 - Urgh, keeping my speed up is getting to be real hard. I'm getting passed...a lot.<br>
Mile 5.2ish - I have 10 whole minutes to get to the finish and still break an hour. I'm feeling like crap, but I just keep putting one foot in front of the other.<br>
For the last 0.2, I kick it up a notch and almost sprint past a girl before being scolded about going single file into the chute, but the girl was practically jogging towards it. I was a little miffed.<br><br>
Final time - 57:33.1!!!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/icon_cheers.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="cheers"> A 9:17 pace!!!!!!!! <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/surprised.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Surprised"><br><br>
I had no idea I could do that. And to top it off, I came in first in the combined women's AB Clyde category and I was the second female Clyde overall. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/smile.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Smile"> I think that's a good way to end my last year as a Clyde. <img alt="" class="inlineimg" src="http://www.kickrunners.com/forum/images/smilies/biggrin.gif" style="border:0px solid;" title="Very Happy"><br><br>
My trophy...<br><img alt="" src="http://lh3.google.com/nettiedgreat/RzY_nbdnpsI/AAAAAAAAA2E/f-KOMh7MX74/s400/DSC00362.JPG" style="border:0px solid;">
