After racing a 5k on Saturday, I decided to run on Sunday too. I had run the race last year, and it went to a great cause. Since I ran last year, I knew the course was long. It wasn’t a matter of Garmin “telling me so”, it was a matter of the course being 3X1 mile loops and then a loop on the track. (which made for about 3.25-3.3). If I was that upset about it, I wouldn’t have run the race. Honestly, I would rather run a longer race than short.
The race started at 9 am, and I got there at 8. My stomach has felt off lately, and I can’t pinpoint what it is. When I warmed up, I didn’t feel great but not awful either. After all, I had raced the day before too. My stomach felt off and “sloshy”. I got to the start line at 8:58 and didn’t feel too ready.
In typical local 5k fashion, a young student yelled, “don’t start yet, I’m tying my shoe” and we waited for a minute. Then abruptly like last year, we were off. During the first mile, I found myself as fourth person overall. I could see the high schoolers in front me and it kept me motivated. We rounded the first loop and I hit the first mile in 5:53. I was shocked and excited. I didn’t feel “amazing” while racing. My stomach wasn’t bothering me like in warmup but I didn’t feel great either.
During the second mile, I focused on the two boys immediately close to me. I knew the winner was way out of my sights, but I thought I could stay focused enough to pass the other two. Last year, the roads were under construction, and there were a lot of potholes. This year it was a smooth and perfect road. I passed the first boy around the second mile and ran a 6:03.
After that, my only goal was “not to fade too much”. I passed the second place male during mile 3 as well.
There was a volunteer who was patrolling the course in a golf cart who stopped short in front of me. I nearly ran right into him and stopped short. I told myself during the third mile; I would be happy with anything under 6:30 but surprised myself was another 6:03.
As we rounded the third mile, I couldn’t remember how to get to the track. There was no volunteer, and the course wasn’t marked. I tried to remember (in about 1 second) what we did last year and went with it. I figured they would yell at me if I was wrong. Since you have to go on the grass field to get to the track finish, I blazed my own path.
I got on the track and was going to the correct direction towards the finish so I figured I was okay. I crossed the end in 19:36 and ran around 3.26 miles.
Thoughts:
To be honest, I didn’t expect to feel that good, especially after racing a 5k the day before. I’m extremely pleased with my results and have no complaints. Garmin tells me I crossed the “exact” 5k mark at 18:35 and averaged 6:01 pace, but you race the course you’re given. It’s my fastest paced 5k since (by a lot!) before my injury so I can’t complain! Last year I ran a 20:51 and this year a 19:36. Granted last year I was recovering from a late weekend, 30 seconds per mile is a lot.
Questions for you:
Have you ever dealt with stomach problems during a race?
When was the last time you surprised yourself?
Wow, what a quick turnaround and great showing! Usually after a race, I’ll do something easy–most often a swim or a bike–but I’ve never tried to log a quality workout within 24 hours.
I have run one race (10 mile) with an upset stomach and to be honest I PR’ed (at the time) the race. I think my stomach issue was more related to nerves, but I never felt great during the race because of it. It always amazes me what mind over matter can accomplish.
I think you ran an amazing “5k” despite all of the difficulties you encountered. Well done!
Your times are so impressive!!!! I am incredibly inspired. I don’t think I have dealt with stomach problems, but I always end up having some knee pain or a cramp at some point during a marathon. The last time I surprised myself was when I took off 20 minutes from my first marathon time. ( I did the Charlevoix and then the Cincy). Granted, I did them a couple years apart, but I didn’t expect to shave that much off! Thanks for your post- I have the itch to go do my morning run now 🙂
Congratulations on 1st place female and a great race, especially so soon after the other race. You did a great job as well considering the course and entering the track wasn’t well marked, and you picked off the guy. It really does not bother me if a course is a little long, everyone runs the same course and the times reflect that. I just look at the pace like you did. Most XC and trail courses are a little off. I’ve heard people complain that a course was long because they got 3.12 or something instead of 3.11.
I’ve run several races with stomach issues… but I think when you run a lot of races, you’ve run them in every condition possible. I try to remind myself that I’ve had some pretty good performances even when I didn’t feel 100% and tell myself that maybe that day is the day for that to happen again.
Congratulations on the win! For some reason running long distances always makes me feel queasy in the stomach so I’ve actually never had the courage to enter a race. You have inspired me. Maybe I’m just a big baby and need to suck it up. 😀
Great job, you’re awesome!
I’ve really only had stomach issues in marathons, which is a special case. It was late in last year’s Marine Corps Marathon, maybe one too many GU’s and not enough water, but I thought I was on track. Anyway it kept me from partaking at the Dunkin Donuts Munchkin stop, or having any significant final push.
I’ve benefited though- back in the Dark Ages when I was about your age and speed I got into an epic battle with a high school CC runner at the weekly 3.8 miler put on at his school. Not just passing bad and forth, I mean bumping shoulders and such – never in my life had a done that, I’m usually a ‘run against myself for a fast time’ person – or was back in the day at least. But it was on!
I prevailed, however, when the high schooler began throwing up and had to stop, in the last mile.