Good vs. Bad

ADDENDUM: A couple of things...I made a terrible error saying that Frank got 2nd Place in his age group as he received 1st Place. Oops! Okay...he's already scolded me, ha! With him being my running partner, I feel terrible. Two people played important roles in their support of me with their comments (Ed & Ginny). It pulled me out of the hole I fell in much faster than if I had "worked" through it alone. These particular people mean a lot to me and definitely want to recognize and correct any errors I've made in my blog post.
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Last week was quite a mix of emotions. Getting in a fairly long run before leaving Gulf Shores was rewarding and yet sad as it will be a while before I'll be able to run the beach road again. But coming home and getting in another decent long run with my running partner and new friend was nice, too. Though my runs have been a little slower than usual, I've taken it for what it's worth...a run vs. laying on the couch. MUCH better. The heat has come with a vengeance with its twin, humidity! I mean it's been terrible in the south. Boy, do we need rain to break this. Temps reached 105 on my back porch on Friday and "legally" recorded as 103, a record breaker for this early in the summer.

Getting 15 miles done in just two runs, I felt I would reach my weekly goal of 20 miles pretty easy. After all, I had a 5k planned on Saturday. But for some weird reason, that didn't happen. Reached 19.3 miles! Oh, well. Travelling cut me short a day's run, so I guess that's not bad for 3 days.

We registered for the Bay Fest 5k in Bay Springs on Saturday. Knowing it's a hilly area and the problems I've been working through with my left knee, I was still talked into doing it. It's so easy to do when you really love to run. On top of that and maybe one of the reasons I registered was to see all my friends I hadn't seen in a while. I have REALLY missed them and knew they were going to be there. Actually, some were there I hadn't planned on seeing. It was kind of like a family reunion of sort. Runners are like that...extended families. We all speak the same language, look the same and plan our lives the same (for the next race). Here are some pics before the lowdown.

The course was a tough one. It may not have been so daunting except the weather placed an additional degree of difficulty on it. I began struggling to breathe in the first mile. One reason I love my iPod is that I can't hear my breathing or foot strikes...they really get me off track and sends my brain messages to tell the rest of me that I'm pushing too hard and to slow down...even when I'm comfortable at a certain pace. Therefore, I LOVE my iPod! I probably would have died if I had not had it for this run! Even with it, I could hear my labored breathing above my music and I knew this was too hard for the beginning of any race. Hey, this is only a 5k, right? What in the world is going on here? Oh, boy, this is not looking good.

My first mile was VERY good with those hills and humidity. An 8:27 pace is about my norm for a very flat course and that was my pace for the first mile...not a good sign. (Have I told you how much I love my Garmin lately??) With the stats, I saw this pace and was really surprised. By the time I had gotten to the second mile I was about out of energy. I mean "OUT". It was then that I realized that a friend of mine from the coast was experiencing some problems, too. Tommy and I run pretty close to the same pace and with me slowing down I knew we were both not doing well. Then I would see him slow down to a walk of about 5 steps or so and start running again. I couldn't run any faster and was hoping to stay close to him. Two more times, he stopped for a few steps and would run again. These times I saw him rubbing his quad, I knew he was in trouble. I felt soooo bad for him. Gradually, I was catching up and then I knew that I would pass him. In doing so, I asked if he was okay and he said yes so I figured he could handle this issue until he got in. Did I say this was a 5k??? Folks, that's only 3 miles!!

My two running buddies had long gone. One ran very strong and pushed ahead right at the beginning...Go, D, you're my hero today! The other hung with me at first, then I realized that he was running slower for me. I insisted that he NOT run with me and to go on ahead. Frank ran good, too, and is the best encourager there is. But in the last half mile or so I found myself walking a few steps then running again a couple of times. I absolutely had nothing left in me. I was feeling defeated the longer the race went on. Would it ever end??? I hate this race!! Why did I let Kent talk me in to this? It chewed me up and spit me out like old Jonah's big fish. How can I be so beaten up in such a short distance...I was never so glad to see a Finish Line for a 5k as I was this one.

Okay, I admit, I didn't have nor ever have had any hill training. The last 2 months or so, has been totally flat running. AND, my knee has been in-and-out of the knee brace recently. This definitely was a cause of concern for my ability to continue to run after this race. I didn't want to injury it further.

Kent had been struggling with gout the last few days (too much seafood on vacation, ha). And, when that strikes, it puts you down. But he had done well in nursing it and though it wasn't back to normal, he was able to racewalk. He did VERY well with his race. It was his first time to RW on hills plus dealing with all of the heat and humidity combined. Since being a runner for over 30 years, Kent has found that racewalking, with its strict guidelines, is more of a challenge than running ever was. With racewalking based on the honor system, at times, it can be frustrating when you see fellow "racewalkers", who do not know the guidelines or just refuse to follow them, win awards. But he is learning to deal with it and has really enjoyed the new challenge of RW and is improving with every race.

When it was all said and done many of us came out as winners. Tommy had to leave but we picked up his trophy. Congrats, Tommy! You did well...I KNOW cause I watched you!! Here is your cyber award until we can get it to you.


Deleica S. won 1st place, Frank B. won 2nd place, Gary T. won Grandmasters, Anna T. won an award...forgot your place, sorry :( ; Kay J. won first place, Ray H. won Masters and Jennifer H. won Overall Female Racewalker...oh, and their son, Bo, won in his age group. There were many others, I just can't recall them right now. Many of our friends left as winners. Congrats to everyone! Caroline R. won in her age group, Vicki C. and Eric W. won and seems there was someone else. Of course, if you were breathing, you won THIS race, ha! Kent won 2nd place overall racewalker and I won 3rd in my age group. Here are our awards:


Lessons learned or reinforced:
1. Train appropriately, even for a 5k.
2. Condition your body to the weather expected.
3. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.
4. Always have iPod charged (this one's for you D.)
5. NEVER give up...ever!!
6. My best is my best, not someone else's best OR their expectations.
7. Do NOT put myself down. Evaluate the race and plan for the future.
8. Always find something positive.
9. Share your experience, good or bad.
10. Shake off the bad, negative, or hurtful things that happen and push forward.

I did well for all of the "new" things I experienced and am looking forward to being better next time. Enjoyed visiting with our runner friends. And, though I was pretty disappointed in my race, opening up and sharing my results and feelings to close friends with some time to recup and get my head back on straight, I've learned to share my experience as it is. It may help someone else going through the same thing. I hope you find something here that will encourage you to do something better, stronger and kinder.

I AM A RUNNER and am not going to give up!! And, neither should you. Always do your best, it's all you have to give. Until next time...

Run 4 It