Run for the Water, with Joy
If you don't know me by now, then you need to know that I don't like running races. I don't mind triathlons, and I didn't mind the trail runs I did this past summer. I do dislike road running races immensely. I'm not fast at all and stress out very easily, so I generally just stay away from races to avoid stress and feeling like a total loser.
That all changed when I got the look from Gayatri for the 10-miler. I love training for races. Training is fun. Before I agreed to run the 10-miler with Gayatri, I had already signed up to volunteer at packet pickup from 2pm - 7pm the day before the race. So volunteer day rolls around and I watch Joshua play soccer, eat fast food on the way to see my niece's cheer practice, and then I get dropped off for hours of standing at packet pickup. Did you see me on TV?
I get picked up, and we all drive to Nightmare Factory...oh, I mean, Main Event, for a birthday party. I stand around there some more and eat more crappy food because I'm starving and there is nothing else to eat. It's around this time that I realize that I've been really stupid about eating and standing around all day.
5am rolls around, and I'm hoping that none of Saturdays events will affect me. I eat my normal food and head to the race. The first mile was fast for us, which is normal for adrenaline and keeping up with the herd. Of course, no one realizes they are going too fast until they check their watches. We run by my car in the parking lot under Mopac, and I see a guy crouched down on the far side of the car. My car is one of two in the whole lot due to the road being blocked off at 6am. My first thought is that he's stealing my car or doing something to it. Well, he certainly was doing something - peeing. I see a stream coming out from under the car by his leg. I probably never would have noticed that guy if it hadn't been my car. For a nano-second, I was going to call him out, but how rude that would be.
1.5 miles into the race I feel nauseous. I think I tell Gayatri about this feeling around mile 2. She asks if I want to walk, and I can't bear the thought of walking at mile 2. I suffer through and around mile 4, I start feeling better. I hope that it's gone, but the nausea just keeps coming back. I take goo and cliff blocks hoping that will help. I felt miserable really for the bulk of the race. My legs were tired, but we ran up every hill. The hardest mile for me was the last mile. I was feeling so ill and just wanted it to be over. I really disliked running down Lake Austin Blvd. because it was so long.
We turned the corner on San Antonio and could see the finish. I tried to pick it up well before that turn, but the nausea controlled me. I saw David and my boys. I gave them a thumbs up out of habit, but I quickly pointed it down. We picked it up near the very end for a "fast" finish. I was so relieved to be done. Not happy at all, just relieved. We did finish in under 2 hours, which was an unspoken goal of ours.
I sucked on oranges, lamented the lack of Whataburger cookies, and felt better about 30 minutes after the race. I saw my boys run the Kids' 1K, and I even mustered some energy to run with Joshua to the finish.
I spent about 2-3 days hating that race and swearing that I'd never run a road race again. I went to class Monday and just ran the track to loosen up my sore quads. Then Wednesday was Tempo, my all-time favorite workout.
If you don't know me by now, you need to know that I'm often sarcastic.
That all changed when I got the look from Gayatri for the 10-miler. I love training for races. Training is fun. Before I agreed to run the 10-miler with Gayatri, I had already signed up to volunteer at packet pickup from 2pm - 7pm the day before the race. So volunteer day rolls around and I watch Joshua play soccer, eat fast food on the way to see my niece's cheer practice, and then I get dropped off for hours of standing at packet pickup. Did you see me on TV?
I get picked up, and we all drive to Nightmare Factory...oh, I mean, Main Event, for a birthday party. I stand around there some more and eat more crappy food because I'm starving and there is nothing else to eat. It's around this time that I realize that I've been really stupid about eating and standing around all day.
5am rolls around, and I'm hoping that none of Saturdays events will affect me. I eat my normal food and head to the race. The first mile was fast for us, which is normal for adrenaline and keeping up with the herd. Of course, no one realizes they are going too fast until they check their watches. We run by my car in the parking lot under Mopac, and I see a guy crouched down on the far side of the car. My car is one of two in the whole lot due to the road being blocked off at 6am. My first thought is that he's stealing my car or doing something to it. Well, he certainly was doing something - peeing. I see a stream coming out from under the car by his leg. I probably never would have noticed that guy if it hadn't been my car. For a nano-second, I was going to call him out, but how rude that would be.
1.5 miles into the race I feel nauseous. I think I tell Gayatri about this feeling around mile 2. She asks if I want to walk, and I can't bear the thought of walking at mile 2. I suffer through and around mile 4, I start feeling better. I hope that it's gone, but the nausea just keeps coming back. I take goo and cliff blocks hoping that will help. I felt miserable really for the bulk of the race. My legs were tired, but we ran up every hill. The hardest mile for me was the last mile. I was feeling so ill and just wanted it to be over. I really disliked running down Lake Austin Blvd. because it was so long.
We turned the corner on San Antonio and could see the finish. I tried to pick it up well before that turn, but the nausea controlled me. I saw David and my boys. I gave them a thumbs up out of habit, but I quickly pointed it down. We picked it up near the very end for a "fast" finish. I was so relieved to be done. Not happy at all, just relieved. We did finish in under 2 hours, which was an unspoken goal of ours.
I sucked on oranges, lamented the lack of Whataburger cookies, and felt better about 30 minutes after the race. I saw my boys run the Kids' 1K, and I even mustered some energy to run with Joshua to the finish.
I spent about 2-3 days hating that race and swearing that I'd never run a road race again. I went to class Monday and just ran the track to loosen up my sore quads. Then Wednesday was Tempo, my all-time favorite workout.
If you don't know me by now, you need to know that I'm often sarcastic.
Labels: Running
posted by Jessica at
3:35 PM
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