Race Recap: Strides for Autism 5k

A new shirt to add to my collection

Today I ran my fifth 5k. And every race has been a completely different experience. Even though I have run a race at the same location as today, this was an entirely different experience.

I should have guessed this was going to be different because when I tried to register on-line last week, I couldn't. I e-mailed the organization, I called their local office. No response. I hoped and prayed that there would be a race and that I would be able to register on site.

This was the most laid back race experience I've had. No bibs, no timing chip, no official start or finish. When the director was giving instructions, she said, "This isn't a race. Walk as much as you want, for as long as you want." I was the only runner. A few people power-walked, most just strolled. There were several families there with their autism service dogs.

Even though this wasn't really a "race," I stuck with my pre-race plan. Twenty minutes of walking, jogging, and stretching. Coming into today, I really wanted to PR, and I knew that by warming up, I'd be able to start faster.

I didn't count on the weather though. There were storm clouds off to the east, and by race time the sun had started to peak through the clouds. It was 78 degrees, with an occasional stiff breeze, but plenty of sun. Yikes! I am not used to running in daylight, let alone sunlight!

The "course" was a one mile loop around the lake at Grand Park. I've decided that Grand Park is my nemesis. The last time I ran here, it was also hot, and I had to duck down into a ditch to pee. Both races at Grand Park have not felt great, but both ended with great finishing times. One of these days, I'll run at Grand Park and feel good about it!

I got off to a good pace, not pushing hard because there wasn't anyone else running. One of the exciting things about race day is being around other runners. I missed that. There wasn't much shade and by the end of the first loop, I was getting hot. I picked up a water bottle, and started to alternate walk/run for the second loop.

Halfway through the second loop, I felt that familiar urge and knew I had to find the porta-potty. Thankfully, I would be running right by it, so I paused my GPS and ducked in. When you're already hot and sweaty, making a pit stop in a plastic box with the sun beating down on it doesn't help. I'm just sayin'.

So after my pit stop, I started out again. Even if most people were only walking one lap, I decided I was going to go the full 3.1 miles. I was doing more walking than running at this point. I kept looking at my GPS and knew that I could PR, even if I would miss my goal of sub-40. But I just couldn't go any faster. It was too hot, and I really didn't want to give myself heat exhaustion. By this time, I had also dumped most of my water on myself to keep cool.

I finished with a time of 41:56, a PR by 20 seconds. I'm saving that sub-40 for October 22nd. :-)

Because this was for an autism charity and I know that several Mamavation sistas have children with autism or aspergers, I had asked for their names earlier in the week. I had intended to write their name on my arm and run for them. I forgot my marker, and by the time I got registered, I was sweaty enough that the pens didn't want to write on my skin. So I wrote their names on a piece of paper and stuck it in my shoe pocket. I ran for these amazing kids because sometimes to struggle to navigate our complex world, yet they persevere. They were my inspiration today.

Running in an event like this makes me count my blessings. I have a healthy child. My husband and I are both healthy. I have a husband who adores me and puts up with my crap. Even though we lost our first child, my faith gives me confidence that I will see her again in heaven. I am very blessed. And I am very thankful.