For the last three weeks prior to this race, I was severely bloated which makes running suck. Sometimes for no real reason, my blood sugars decide…hey now let’s cause your body to retain about 10-15 pounds of water. Nevermind that you finally get to race a 5k or nevermind that running bloated stinks when you can’t fit into your spanx. So that was where I was at starting this race.
I wasn’t really in the mood to run let alone race, but being on a budget and paying for races…you pay for things and you do them. Moving on, dad and I got there around 6:30 for the 7:30 start. I warmed up for a couple of miles and found remote air conditioned trailer porta potties. So it was already a win even if I ran a personal worst.
I made it to the start where I saw Kris L looking cute and fast as always. Whenever I see her at races I make sure to get a good (not creepy glance) and chat so that when she is a famous elite, I can you know…say I used to line up at races and chat with her. Then of course there were all the other sweaty people. The start of summer races down here are always one big stinky humid mess.
And then the race started. My legs seemed to know what to do though my water belly girgled a bit. Sloshing through mile one, I started at roughly the 5th place female…at first I was upset and then I remembered…derp this is essentially how you start all your races. Hopefully you’ll pick it up…Looking back, I hit my first mile at 5:32. You can scroll to the side and see my mile PR is 5:31. So that’s that.
The just kept going and chugging through. Around mile 2 (6:09), I saw I had somehow made it to third overall (female) and was right behind a pack of cross country boys. All who probably thought I was a high school female and were not having me break through their pack. Dumb.
The last mile actually went by really quickly for once. I didn’t die, (I was slowing down) but I didn’t feel like I was going into cardiac arrest, which is always a nice feeling when you are running. Between mile 2-3, they were passing out all sorts of things on the course…necklaces…American flags…so I attempted to take some and put it in my hair but they fell out. I looked really good I’m sure. (6:11).
We made the final 180 turn (there were 3 in this 5k) and headed back to the finish line. They actually do videos on this road race so you can see me awkwardly finish if you are into that sort of thing…since I didn’t get any photos. I just powered through to the end where I promptly went over to the “chill zone” ie a tent with misting water.
Another 5k in the exact perimeters of 19:03-19:10. Rain, shine, wind, 90 degrees, long course, short course…I am in that 7 second window. One day I’ll break 19:00 minutes again.
Questions for you:
Did you race July 4th?
How was your July 4th?
Ha, you are awesome. Thanks for the mention. I always love seeing you! The temp and humidity was brutal that day and with the hair pins turns (were there 3 of them?) you would have been well under 19 mins in better conditions. Nice work!
I had no idea there were videos. Ill be checking them out so thanks for sharing.
I didn’t realize it until I thought about it either! There was one at the very beginning when we went near mount trashmore, then when we went out by that lake and finally around the 3rd mile!
I think I just need to find a 5k on a 3 mile long run way. LOL. I am doing the memorial scholarship 5k at the end of the month where I went a 19:03 last year so maybe that is the race for it. Unless it’s 1000 degrees…
I did a slow 4 miler July 4th. Its always a fun race, but I wasn’t really feeling much like racing that morning.
I’m just amazed at how fast you run!! I ran a 10k in Freeport, Maine on the 4th:) It was a lot of fun on a humid, hilly course!!
Awe thanks and glad you had a good time Kara!
For stomach issues, you killed it! Right at your 1 mile PR…not too shabby! And having video for a race finish totally blows my mind. Technology is nuts!
Not so much stomach issues but a lot of blood sugar problems. 🙂
I did a 20 miler on July 4 but it was a race… an ultra. So a different kind of race, it was basically run as many laps as you can within 12 hours… or not. Either way, I did an organized run on July 4 even if it wasn’t the typical kind of race I do.
You will so break 19 in the Fall. I mean, it’s the heat of summer and you weren’t feeling well, and you came super close to it in this race. Once it cools down and you get a day when you feel GOOD, it will happen!! It does suck to have to run when you don’t feel good but you get it done, and like you I couldn’t just DNS because races are not cheap for me and even if I get a comped entry from the store, I still have responsibilities there (err, be a running advertisement).
We had those trailer porta potties at a 5K I did downtown and it was like luxury porta potties. Those things were nicer than my college dorm bathroom…
So you did a 20 mile ultra?
That’s great to hear since I’m sure it will be nice prep for your full marathon. As far as breaking 19 in the fall as much as I would like too, I’m not sure I’ll get that opportunity. Might have to wait until winter time.
Well, sorta. It was a 12 hour fundraising race called the “Pointless 12 Hour Ultra”- so in the sense of how the race was named, yes. I didn’t truly do an ultra since that’s over 26.2 miles. But this one was basically a big group event that lasted 12 hours and you were free to come and go as you pleased. Some people came and ran 3 miles, some ran 30.
I really just used it as an excuse to get an aided 20 miler in and have company to run with. I’ll have a recap up on my blog later this week. A lot of my friends really did it as a true ultra though. The actual event was registered on an Ultra Marathon website so the results “counted” for those who did.
Yeah that’s why I was a bit confused of why you said it was an ultra! Sounds cool though!
Congratulations! I raced on the 4th, as well. It was a beautiful morning for it!
You’re seriously unbelievable (in a good way)! Hopefully you” break that 19:00 minute mark soon!! Maybe fall when the climate is more ideal!
Thanks-I’ve broken 19 before so hopefully soon again. 🙂
That’s a fantastic race time for not feeling ideal! You’ll break 19 soon!
Well, July 4th is just like any other day in the UK, so sadly no races for me.
I’m sure you’ll get under 19 minutes again really soon, but remember that upping miles (even if it’s not overall, simply how long your ‘long’ run is) each week as part of marathon training does tend to sap your speed in shorter races, particularly if it’s your first marathon.
I watched that video just to see your brilliant tippy-toes running style. Have you always run like that or is it something you cultivated when you first started running? If it’s the latter I wish I had done that – I don’t think I’ll ever unlearn my horrible heel-striking ‘technique.’ I’d settle for midfoot, let alone the graceful, deer-like way that you run.
xxx
I’ve actually always ran that way. I also walk really far on my tippy toes too, which is why Newtons work so well for me…they don’t have much support in the heel but more in the front.
Ugh. I hate running with a bloated stomach and you feel like you can feel everything inside your stomach moving through your intestines. I had this problem for my FIRST race and it was just horrific. Haha! Not the best feeling. Don’t you love being mistaken for a high schooler? I just got a school discount for a new pair of running shoes (don’t ask) because I had a ship shirt on… Sweet.
I did not race, however I did run and do Insanity so it was still a good workout day. I also drank because it was July 4th and thats what ‘mericans do. Btw totally creeped on your finish video- you looked great!
Dang I know it was humid and hot here on the 4th so I bet it was way worse their! I couldn’t race that day obviously with the foot, so I actually just did a quick bike ride in the morning and it was pretty brutal! You’ll get that 18:xx soon 🙂 Love being mistaken for a high schooler… 2 days in a row I was asked 1: Are you old enough for a credit card? Um. Yes. and at my work 2. Are you old enough to serve alcohol? Um really?? people are cray LOL
You are seriously going to crush 19…. I just know it. You’re well on your way!
I ran with my mom and my sister on the 4th, a 5k just the 3 of us…slow but fun!
You have always talked about running on your toes but I have never seen it! That video is great. You look so speeeedy. Nice race Hollie!
Part of me would love finish line video and the other part of me would avoid watching it like the plague. Heat, humidity and bloating considered that’s a great time!
A 5:32 first mile is smoking!! Plus a 6:09 and a 6:11… with those numbers I don’t even know how you were above 19. That should put you around 18:50 at the very slowest, unless the course was long, or the last 0.1 was really a suffer-fest.
Either way, really impressive to be able to do that in those conditions, plus the blood sugar shenanigans on top of it. I completely blew my 4th of July race, even though my blood sugar was fine… and it wasn’t nearly as hot as where you are! Nice one.
My GPS said it was long (3.22). My guess was from the 180 turns and not running tangents well. A 5k is a 5k no matter how you run it. It def wasn’t a suffer fest either ha!
WOW. Your opening mile is killer–not that the other two aren’t, of course, but anything sub-6 I can’t even fathom. That’s insane. Anyway … it was super hot on the 4th of July in Upstate too. Like people were passed out on the side of the road during a 5-K. I made it through unscathed! 😉
I’m impressed with ANYONE running in this humidity! It’s INSANE! I was going to attempt a run today, but I settled for a Jillian DVD instead. I can’t do it! I did run a few times while we were in Minnesota though and it felt amazing 🙂
Hollie, you are AMAZING! Holy cow, you are QUICK! That first mile- WOOOOOOO!! And yes, you WILL break 19 minutes anytime now. And sloshing water in your stomach is the WORST. ugh. I feel you 🙁 I hope you are feeling better, regarding the bloating now.
You will indeed break 19 again dear o well if this wasn’t the race! Bloat is awful, I remember hating those day in dance… mirrors + leotards + jumping up and down when you are bloated is not good for the mind or the body! But we just have to work through it knowing that that too will pass and we will be normal again one day 😉
Stupid boys!
Nice job, marathon training will help with your 5K times (did me anyway), so you’ll be under 19 before you know it!
Congratulations on another 5K!
We didn’t race on July 4th, but we did spectate a race. We did a 21ish mile ride and then hung out at a pool party all day. My sunburn is finally getting better!
180 degree turns in a race should never, ever happen. What jerk thinks about planning a course and tosses in a 180 degree turn (let alone 2 or 3?!) and thinks it’s a good idea? Do they laugh? Think about all the people who will be 3 seconds away from a PR but because of their stupid 180 degree turns, they won’t?
Actually… If it meant I could run happily tomorrow, I’d race a 5k that was entirely 180 degree turns every 100m…