Wicked 10k Race Recap
I have been dying to do the Wicked 10k in Virginia Beach for quite some time. J&A Racing puts on five races a year (all being themed and I love dressing up). So when the possibility of being able to run the Wicked 10k race rose up, I immediately took it.
The Wicked 10k weekend has several events including the Mini Monster 1k presented by Bon Secours, and now even a flat, fast, one-mile race, the National Bank Monster Mile (The mile happens on the Virginia Beach Boardwalk on Friday Night).
With the Wicked 10k, J&A Racing brings you, Hampton Roads, the largest Halloween Race and Party. During the Anthem Wicked 10k, participates are encouraged to be creative and dress up. That’s why Kris an I chose to be pumpkins for the Wicked 10k. Plus there is live music and post-race party. After the Wicked 10k, you can enjoy the Huge Post Race Party with blue moon beer, live music, and the costume contest.
Then I realized that since the Wicked 10k was a week before the marathon, it would be a perfect last high effort run (or really only high effort run). Though my run at the Wicked 10k is a solid minute per mile faster than my marathon goal pace…I think the marathon is a little longer…
A local runner, Kris and I decided to dress up as pumpkins for the Wicked 10k. It would be a lie if I didn’t tell you that Kris has always been one of my running idols since she moved to VA.
We warmed up for the Wicket 10k around the Convention center and it honestly went by really quickly. As much as I love running with Tim, it’s not the same as running with females and gossiping. We quickly made it back to the start of the Wicked 10k and put our stuff away in the car. Since it was a 10,000 person 10k the lines for the bathroom were so long. We quickly went to the porta-potty and hauled butt to the starting line of the Wicked 10k.
When the Wicked 10k went off, I immediately fell into my groove. I wasn’t sure how my skirt would hold up or if the socks would give me blisters but in proper running technique, I didn’t test any beforehand and just winged it. If I got massive blisters on my feet from the Wicked 10k, that would have been my fault and I probably would have stopped to take the socks off.
The first mile of the Wicked 10k, I felt I was in a solid groove. It was pretty crowded and I got boxed in several times but I managed to pass a few females and settle in by myself. I was weaving a lot during this first mile and with the turns, I managed to take out every turn way to wide. (5:52)
The second mile of the Wicked 10k went right down where I got hit by the cyclist and onto the boardwalk. (6:10)
Mile three of the Wicked 10k was along the boardwalk and I was all alone. The closest person in front of me was a female (about a quarter of a mile up). I wanted to catch her so badly, but couldn’t and never did. (6:14).
I hit the 5k of the Wicked 10k at exactly 19:30.
Mile four of the Wicked 10k, I drew on the crowds from other corrals passing the other way. It kept my mind off running and I was high fiven’, cheering and looking at other people passing the other way. I wanted to speed up during the Wicked 10k but my legs would not turn over any faster. This is just a product of not doing speed workouts and focusing on longer runs as well as high mileage. (6:14)
Mile five of the Wicked 10k was exactly the same way, but there was no one cheering and I was all by myself. I was passed by some males somewhere along there and I tried to keep up but they powered way by me. This was the hardest mile mentally but just kept reminding myself…that’s probably how I’ll feel for 10 miles in the marathon. (6:30)
Mile 6 of the Wicked 10k was motivating because we were heading back to the convention center and it was almost over. I didn’t feel like I was dying but I certainly wasn’t getting any faster. I just gave it everything I had and went to the end. (6:14).
The final .4, you could see the Wicked 10k finish line. I hate those finishes because they never seem like they are getting any closer and there are people at the .4 telling you that you are almost there…when, in reality, you still have 2-3 more minutes.
In my mind, “almost there” means I have about 5 strides to the finish line…not 2 more minutes going into cardiac arrest. Then after a few minutes (but not before being outkicked by someone), I crossed the Wicked 10k finish line, begged for some water, coffee mug and medal and headed into the post-race party with Kris.
Thoughts on the Wicked 10k:
The Wicked 10k was a great confidence booster going into the marathon. I had made the executive decision throughout training to forgo speed workouts and focus on building high mileage instead. Since it is my first marathon and my goal is to FINISH (with a secondary goal around 3:10), I took away all speed and just focused on high mileage.
It was great to only be 8 seconds off my 10k PR without any speed and not feeling the greatest. The weather for the Wicked 10k was beautiful and it was a flat, fast course so I cannot complain about that. Overall the Wicked 10k was a great race and I had a lot of fun. I was 4th female overall at the Wicked 10k and Kris got first! The Wicked 10k also a minute faster then last month’s Zero Prostate Cancer Run (and 40 degrees cooler!)
If you are ever in the VA Beach area, I recommend any race put on by J&A Racing. I always enjoy festive races, especially Halloween, so the Wicked 10k remains one of my favorite.
Questions for you:
Do you like themed races? Have you run the Wicked 10k?
What are your plans for Halloween?
Mine are to whine and complain that I have to wait till Sunday to eat all the candy.
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