Tag: nerves

Central Coast Cancer Challenge 5K- Recap

My first time running the Central Coast Cancer Challenge was 3 or 4 years ago. It was an entirely different beast then. It was smaller and 2/3 on trails with no warning about that on the website. Actually, I am not even sure it had a website. I ended up running into a friend on race morning and we ran it together. At the time it was the closest I had ever come to running a sub 30 5K. Well, until we realized the course was short. By a lot- we all registered around 2.6 miles. Turns out some course signage had fallen over and was not corrected prior to the race start. Oops. The past few years it has been part of the RaceSLO group so I had been wanting to check it out. Schedule conflicts prevented that until this year.

The race raises money for cancer research and a local charity. Cancer survivors can race for free and get a special race shirt with “Survivor” on the back. In memory/ In honor of bibs are free and participants can write names on them and wear them while running. I love the shirts for survivors but I think there needs to be another category. There needs to be a “Fighter” category for those who are still fighting their way to be a survivor.

As the race got closer I wondered what the hell I had been thinking. I haven’t raced a 5K in over a year, and my speed work has been more hit than miss and speed held for any length of time is problematic for my stupid stomach. So yeah. I had originally planned on trying to PR (current PR -27:48) this race but the closer race day got, the more I was leaning towards just holding on. If I could even break 30, I was going to throw a party. Then I saw the course and just laughed. The race has moved to the center of SLO over the past years and they shut down multiple busy streets for it. Having run some of these streets during the SLO half, I knew partially what I was in for. The course loops downtown and starts with a little less than half a mile sloped down, then you make a left and it’s pretty much uphill for the next 1.5 miles. It’s the kind of hill that you don’t notice driving but kicks your ass running. Ahh, crap. So new plan was to try pull off the following splits- moderate speed, slower speed, fast finish. Pretty simple right? 😃

Having picked up my race bib the day before may have made me too relaxed. Per usual my mom was along for the ride and we didn’t even get to the start line area until 7:45. I ended up bailing out of the car while she found a parking spot. Then I needed a restroom stop and there was a line. Another woman in line and I joked that at least races never seem to start on time. 😏 Took care of business and headed to the start. I hopped into the starting line chute at 7:54. I figured I could use the 6 minutes left until the 8:00AM start time to move my way forward in the crowd and get my Garmin situated. Maybe stretch a bit. Best laid plans right?The race whistle blew at 7:55.

5 minutes early!?!

Mile 1- 9:00

My Garmin was on but didn’t have a satellite yet. I just pushed start and figured I would deal with it later. I got hung up in a crowd crossing the starting line but managed to break free after a few blocks. A little too fast since my Garmin buzzed that I was running a 7:30 pace. Oops, slow it down there. Then we turned up the next street and that was taken care of for me. 😊 I passed the mile marker and checked my watch. I knew the mileage was going to be off but I wanted an idea of my overall time. Except the display was on some funky screen only showing the time lapsed in run/walk intervals. Ok then, guess I was running blind.

Mile 2- 9:42

This felt like the longest mile ever. I kept wanting to take a walk break but was arguing with myself that it was all in my head. I felt like we were climbing forever and it’s not even that steep! We only gained 133 ft. I felt like everyone and their brother were passing me. A woman came running up behind me pushing a stroller- uphill- looking fresh as a daisy. I instantly felt out of shape. I told myself I could walk at the water stop. But knowing that there was only one on the way up I had brought my own just in case. So I kept running. Seriously I felt like I was almost at the freeway on ramp, where the hell was the turn around? Oh there, thank you lord. My watch buzzed for it’s mile 2 a little before that and said 9:42. Ouch, definitely not PR pace. It was the only mile I had seen so I wasn’t even sure I was going to break 30. Grrr.

Mile 3- 8:17

I had hoped the downhill was going to help my pace but my stomach had started protesting around mile 1.5. I wasn’t sure how that was going to play out. I drew level with another woman and we had a little chat. She was surprised at just how much of a hill that had been. She said she hadn’t known. I said I had known but that didn’t make it any easier. 😖 We separated, I think I pulled ahead but I can’t remember! I picked up the pace and started reeling people in. I didn’t really feel like I was pushing the pace fitness wise but my stomach was telling a different story. I ran as fast as it was letting me and figured that was the best I could do right then. I could finally hear the announcer and people cheering. Yay, I was almost done! I could see the clock but it was far away and I thought it said 29:something. Then I realized it read 26:something. Holy crap- run!

Finish- 27:10 New PR!!!

Hell yeah! How I took 38 seconds off of my previous time, I have no idea. I felt like I was crawling up that hill. Now I am left thinking that if I had pushed a little harder on the hill, I could have been sub 27. Fitness wise, I didn’t feel like I gave it my all. I know part of that was due to some serious cramping in the last half but part of that was also due to my pre-race doubts. Or maybe me deciding to just hang on and not stress about the race was what got me that shiny new PR. Who knows. I do know I was happy about the race. I ran according to my plan and managed to pull off a fast time for myself. Maybe next time I will push a little harder. Now I just need another 5k. 😃

Oh and the women with the stroller was rocking the 10K. So fast!

What’s you favorite distance to race? Least favorite?

A New Role?

I volunteered for a race years before I ever thought of running one. I worked a water table 3 years before I started running. Back then this race was USATF certified and sanctioned so I can say I have actually seen elite runners up close. They had no need of the water we were providing. But it was fun watching them fly while we froze. Seriously, for being September, I remember freezing the first 2 years. Year 3, my station was at a different mile marker and was in complete sun. So much nicer. It was also in front of a grocery store. I went in and bought all of us volunteers donuts. So yes, the runners had to see us eating donuts. 🙂

Then I started running. So now I was the person grabbing a cup of water from someone with cold hands. After a year of not volunteering, I shifted to working the registration/ packet pick up table the day before the race. I gained a new found respect for anyone who works one of those. Particularly when it comes to t-shirt sizes. Now I think it’s funny but that first year I thought I was going to lose my mind. I’ve done that for 3 years now and I look forward to it every year.

But I haven’t given up water tables. The last 2 years I worked a water table with my mom and her tennis team at another local race. This race hosts a marathon, half marathon and 5K and our station was on the marathon course. So it was a very dark and cold early morning. Then, I was lucky enough to be a SLO ambassador for 2 years so I was given the chance to work on my social media skills. It was fun but let’s be honest- Twitter still confuses me- I just can’t keep up! Which makes this new role a little nerve wracking.Say hello to the Harvest Marathon, owner of those early morning marathon water stations. It’s a scenic race through winding back roads with vineyards lining the way. There are some hills but what better way to train for Heartbreak Hill, right? The proceeds of the race benefit local youth athletic programs. I took these shots at last year’s water station-

What am I doing? Social media, of course. But not as Slacker Runner. As the Harvest Marathon. Eeek!!! I am torn between “muahaha” and “holy crap”. That’s a lot of responsibility. And I feel slightly odd when I (Slacker Runner) shares my (Harvest Marathon) posts. 🙂 Right now I am trying to grow their following but not post excessively. So, I am posting twice a week right now. I would like to step up to 3 but I want it to be natural. I have some plans for future posts, I just need the time to make it happen. I am trying to work on an Instagram as well.

So here are my questions. Do you follow races on social media? What types of posts do you like to see from them? What would catch your attention as a runner? Any suggestions on managing media? I now have 3 Facebook feeds and 2 Twitter feeds. Hootsuite isn’t letting me integrate the 2 profiles. Grrr. Any thoughts?

Help!

Have you ever volunteered for a race before? How?

Pre Race Jitters

Where did this week go? Seriously wasn’t it just Tuesday? Now it is Saturday evening, and I feel unprepared for tomorrow‘s race. I’ve picked up my bib, edited my playlist, and laid out my clothes. Since I decided that a PR is unlikely with that last hill, what do I have to be nervous about?

Taper week has been completed, probably a little too well. After Monday’s 10K, I headed back to the lake path on Tuesday, I ran a good 4.5 miles. Probably a little faster than I should have but they felt like good miles. After that the week seemed to pick up speed.

I had a meeting Wednesday morning but when that was completed I was done for the day, woo hoo!! Since I had to drive through SLO on the way home, I stopped by the Running Warehouse to exchange the handheld I had picked up on Saturday. That thing drove me batty; taking the sleeve off was a pain and I decided to just exchange it. Hopefully the Ultimate Direction handheld I chose will be better. I then headed home to change and go drive tomorrow’s race course. After getting home and changing, I checked Twitter and was ticked. Apparently Jordan Hasay stopped by the Running Warehouse like an hour after I left!!! Ugh!!!! So in the past 2 weeks, Benedict Cumberbatch comes to SLO and I miss it, Jordan Hasay shows up and I miss that too 😦 Oh and Lady Gaga was nearby a few weeks ago too. 😦

Thursday I had a business mixer after work, but the night ended fun! I met some friends for an early showing of Divergent!!! It was really good, they did a pretty good job converting it to a movie. I treated myself to In n Out before the movie, carb loading right? It was so yummy but apparently I was still hungry because 20 minutes into the movie my stomach growled. And it was loud. So awkward.

Friday I had briefly thought about getting in a 2 mile run after work but decided against it. Which turned out to be a good thing because I ended up working longer. The carb loading rationale struck again when I ate a bag of chips. 😦 Today I woke feeling a little under the weather, I have felt like that for a few days now but I am in denial. I keep telling myself that it is just nerves. I worked this morning so I didn’t get to packet pick up until later. It was quick and easy. They are using a new timing system this year so I won’t have to worry about them cutting the chip off as soon as I cross the finish line. 🙂 The shirt is cool too. This is the first time I have received a long sleeve tech tee. And I love gray.

I indulged with a little nap today too. 🙂 Then I went through the swag bag to see what was there-

Now I am in my comfy chair relaxing. Well trying too, I am still antsy for some reason… I have gone through the list a few times and I swear I have everything ready. I can’t shake the feeling that I forgot something. Guess I will find out tomorrow. now if I can just get to sleep at a decent hour tonight…

How was your Saturday?

Anyone else ever get that antsy feeling?