SOS Autism Clinic 5k Race Recap

A year ago, I had barely started this running thing. Today, I ran my third 5k race. What a great day!

I woke up at my usual time around 5:30. I had been having a dream about running (of course). I didn't need to leave the house until about 7:30, so I wasn't in a rush. The race started at 9:00.

After talking with Hubby for a little while, and a few extra snuggles with Ladybug (almost 4 years old), I fixed breakfast. I had oatmeal with ground flax meal, peanut butter and half a banana, plus two eggs for protein. After the fact, I wondered if this was too much. I usually run before I eat, so pre-race breakfast is still an experiment. I also had a cup of coffee, since I've been reading about the benefits of coffee 60-90 minutes before a run.

Hubby and LB weren't able to come cheer me on for this race because of a super-packed Saturday, but my wonderful Mom-in-law volunteers with this charity and was going to be my cheering section for the day. Once I got to the race site and picked up my bib and timing chip, I chatted with her until race time.

I did find a porta-potty before checking in, and about fifteen minutes before the race, I wondered if I should make the trek back to completely empty my bladder. Hindsight is 20/20, they say. I should have made that second porta-potty visit.

The race started at the stroke of 9:00. It was a much smaller crowd than the previous two races, but I had to do a lot of weaving in and out of people, passing, trying not to get run over by a jogging stroller. I knew I was going too fast. My breathing was ragged, I knew I wasn't finding the right pace. At the one mile marker, I looked at the GPS on my phone. Thirteen minutes flat. Way to fast for me!

I started to give myself a few walk breaks. On the second break, I felt my bladder rebelling. I had already passed the porta-potties and started wondering where the trees were. The course was flat and wound around the lake at the park. During mile 2, the course turned up a street adjacent to the park with trees on the opposite side of the road.

There were baseball fields on my left and the street on my right. Then, I saw a pond with a culvert between two of the fields. It was lower than street level. I went for it. Not many runners or walkers around, and there was a break in the car traffic. Yes, I dropped trou, squatted, and peed. It had to be done!

After the bladder was relieved, I was able to continue the walk/run pattern, grabbed some water at the water station just past the 2 mile marker. The sun, which was behind the clouds when the race began, was now shining brightly. It was between 65 and 70 degrees, which to me was HOT! I'm used to running pre-dawn, not in the bright sun. It was getting tough.

There were volunteers all along the course to make sure everyone stayed on the course. Most of them cheered as runners went by. That was so helpful! I checked my GPS at 2.8 miles, and I saw that my goal of finishing under 43 minutes was still within reach, so I gathered all the strength I had left and ran the final .3.

I could see my Mom-in-law just before the finish line. I crossed the timing pad and noticed the clock said 43:something. I reached over to stop my GPS a few steps later. Since I started behind the start line, my GPS read 3.25 miles with a pace of 13:30. I was amazed!!  That is FAST for me. Even with the walk breaks and the heat, I was able to keep a good overall pace and I was pleased.

My official chip time was 42:13 - a Personal Record (my previous finishes were in the 46-47 range).

Lessons learned:

1. Make sure the bladder is COMPLETELY empty before a race!
2. Research electrolyte replacement. I had a headache by mid-afternoon even though I was hydrated.
3. Get some racing tanks/singlets. Have I mentioned that it was HOT today?