Rock and Roll VA Beach (1:28.49)
When the orthopedist told me on Friday there was no reason not to run the Rock and Roll Va Beach on August 31 st, I immediately got excited. Even though my arm was cleared to run, my legs felt stiff from never really getting the lactic acid out from my 8k the previous weekend. It had had a week to sit there and fester so although my arm was okay, my calves were sore. By sore, I mean running a 9-minute mile the day before felt the way a 6:30 mile should. Rock n Roll VA Beach is known for the American Music Festival and having live bands along the course.
Two of my friends, Heather and Laura, came down to race Rock and Roll Va Beach too. We all piled into the car at 5:00 along with dad headed to the race start. We quickly found parking and made it to the start an hour early.
While lining up in carrol 1 of Rock and Roll Va Beach, I was a bit more cautious since I didn’t want to bump into anyone. The doctor had said due to the location of the fracture, the only way I could shatter or hurt the bone more was to fall on the exact same spot with the exact same force. I still did not want to bump into anyone just because I’m overly cautious (and have pretty bad luck). My GPS didn’t synch correctly, so I don’t have mile splits, but I’m 100% okay with that.
The first few miles of Rock and Roll Va Beach, I ran with Mike. It’s always nice to be able to find someone to run and be about the same pace. The 5kers started at the same time as Rock and Roll Va Beach, which was somewhat weird with a 15,000 person race. The first three miles of Rock and Roll Va Beach was a blur and we were all packed in like little sardines.
At the 2.5-mile mark of Rock and Roll Va Beach I noticed the 5k shoot began, I couldn’t help but think to myself that having a 5k shoot of .6 long was a touch too much.
After we clicked off three miles of Rock and Roll Va Beach, I had already sweat through my top. I’m not the biggest sweater and by the time I got water (which was incredibly difficult when you can’t grab things with your right hand), my tank was soaking through. I knew my body had already begun to overheat. At that point, I decided it was wise to grab Gatorade and water at every stop.
Miles 4-6 of Rock and Roll Va Beach were uneventful. Although I didn’t feel great at Rock and Roll Va Beach, I did begin to pass people. This part of Rock and Roll Va Beach was straight, flat and on the main road of the area. It made sense because it’s such a big field of people, but it was pretty hard on the legs and boring on the mind. My most memorable moment of this point was saying go “Team Hoyt,” and one of the ladies said…Hey, I read your blog! Team Hoyt never ceases to amaze me. (They push disabled children in strollers while running a lot of races.) Every person that is apart of this is truly amazing.
Around mile 6 of Rock and Roll Va Beach, we turned and went into a nice side street. It had shade. I made some small talk with a few of the racers around me. The relay handoffs were around mile 7, which was a bit motivating because more people were cheering. I was running (unknowingly) with the first relay team and he did his hand off and left). When we turned into the base around mile 8, it was instaheatbox again.
It made a huge u shape around the base so you were able to see people about a mile in front of you wishing you were a mile closer to the finish. My only thought during mile 9 of Rock and Roll Va Beach was oh my stars I need more water.
I felt a sudden burst of excitement around mile 10 of Rock and Roll Va Beach because I realized I only had a 5k to the finish. I attempted to pick up the pace but that was not happening because it was so hot and I was tired.
Mile 11 of Rock and Roll Va Beach, we went back over the only hill on the course (i.e., a bridge). My legs were shot and I was dying and saying I think I can I think I can. The humidity was getting the worse and I was pretty miserable. I want to use proper blogging and running technique about how I negative split Rock and Roll Va Beach, but I didn’t. It was fading and the last 3 miles of Rock and Roll Va Beach were some of the hardest I’ve run in a while.
When we turned onto the Virginia Beach boardwalk, I could see the finish line. The Rock and Roll Va Beach finish line that was still .75 away. I thought the Rock and Roll Va Beach finish line might never come and I think those five minutes or so are contenders for the longest 5 minutes of my life. I wanted to try and kick to the end…but didn’t have the energy. So I just ran cursing every four letting word under my breath and hoping it killed time.
I finally crossed the Rock and Roll Va Beach finish line in 1:28.49 which I was pleased with.
Afterward, we relaxed on the beach and also ran into Kristy, who had a great race herself.
Overall thoughts of Rock and Roll Va Beach:
I had no idea where Rock and Roll Va Beach would go. I know I say that a lot, but after my previous week of training my calves were still sore. A lot of people said the rest would do me well, which of course, my body was recovering, but the lactic acid was still festering in my legs from the previous week. The heat and humidity (around 75-80 and 94% humidity) was certainly a huge factor of this race as well.
All of that negativity aside, I did have a great race at Rock and Roll Va Beach. Was it a PR? No. Did I have a great time at Rock n Roll Virginia Beach with great friends before I move tomorrow? Yes.
Questions for you:
Have you ever run a Rock and Roll race? Have you run Rock and Roll Va Beach?