Well, I've been pretty down on myself lately, running-wise. I had a 10k on the books last weekend and I had to bail out at mile 3.75. I was completely bummed because I've absolutely never quite mid-race before! I never even walk if I get tired, let along completely bail!
I pulled into the race location (Krug Park) last Friday night really nervous about the run. Not so much the distance, but the course. It was going to be 5 loops around the park which has a steep hill about the first quarter mile. Not too bad if you're doing it once or maybe even twice, but five times would be brutal. I freaked when I heard we were going to have to loop five times! So, mentally, I was already in a bad place. Anyway, when I pulled into the park, I saw a teenage couple making out in the middle of the road. So, my last two races (and within one week of each other) I see kids making out! Strange! At least they weren't 11 years old this time...LOL.
When we lined up for the race, there were only 14 of us doing the 10k. And, by looking at the runners you could tell these were SERIOUS runners! So, I didn't exactly fit in. I made up my mind to start of slow and just keep that pace the entire run. Well, I started off slow in my head (my first mile was a pace of 7:47!), which was basically just comparing myself to the other runners since I was already in last place! At that point, though, I didn't care. I was just doing it for the exercise and to finish.
The first loop was OK, but once I got to the uphill portion, it was really tough. But, I made it to the top and realized I had to do it 4 more times?! Second loop was slower (pace: 9:28) and again, I struggled up the hill. Seriously, I could hardly breathe once I made it to the top. I joked that I could feel my baby gasping for amniotic fluid, even! LOL. By the third loop, I had to walk up the hill and was still completely exhausted. I decided that since I was so out of breath and I knew my heart rate had to be pretty high (higher than I should have had it in my condition, probably) that it was in my best interest to stop.
I was so disappointed in myself, mostly and even went to the car to call Coach and started crying. Of course, he was praising me for even attempting to do it at all and he was still proud of me, but I still felt like a loser. I got over it soon enough to cheer on my friend Kerry near the finish line. She came in first in her age group (I would have come in second...out of two people:) and last in the race. All racers ran a sub-ten minute mile. Actually, I'm pretty sure Kerry even ran a sub-9:30 mile, so in my opinion, those racers were amazing!
So, needless to say, I've definitely been in a running slump lately and wondering if it's time for me to turn in my sneakers for the remainder of my pregnancy or if I should continue to try to do 5ks or even flat 10ks. I haven't decided, but am definitely in need of some words of encouragement right now....anyone?
Oh, and, it probably goes without saying that the half marathon on my schedule for Sunday morning, is now off the schedule :(
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
official 5k results are in
Just checked online today and the official results are posted from the Apple Blossom 5k.
Total Time: 27:33
Average Pace: 8:52
I'm very proud of myself as this would be a good pace for me without being pregnant. So, the fact that I am, makes me even more happy! Yippee!
Total Time: 27:33
Average Pace: 8:52
I'm very proud of myself as this would be a good pace for me without being pregnant. So, the fact that I am, makes me even more happy! Yippee!
Monday, May 3, 2010
apple blossom 5k and other misc items
Saturday morning was our annual Apple Blossom parade and 5k. The 5k follows the parade route right before the parade starts. So, basically, the entire town was there to watch me run....yes, I'm a local celebrity:)
The race started at 9:15 and the weather was perfect for short sleeves and shorts/capris. I opted to wear a pair of running capris which I normally love b/c they're not too tight around the waist (and that is really crucial to me right now). However, the only other runs I've worm them on were longer runs where I had my fuel belt on me. Little did I know that the fuel belt was really good at holding these capris up. Because I literally pulled those pants up somewhere around 50 times throughout the 5k! Annoying! But, glad I figured that out while doing a short run.
Anywho, the first 1/2 mile of the race was uphill...during which I thought I was going to hyperventilate and die (not kidding). My mental devil was in my head telling me that I should just quit at the top of the hill (that is where my family would be standing for the race/parade)....that I've run the first three and a half months of my pregnancy and I can no longer do it. But, I got to the top of the hill and saw my family all waving at me. Then, most importantly, I saw my 4 year old nephew Jackson waving at me (he's never seen me running before, but we talk a lot about it) and, I know it's silly, but he just had this proud look on his face and that gave me the push I needed to continue. That, and the fact that I new the rest of the race was downhill helped my mental state at that point.
Those of you from St. Joe will appreciate my observations on the race course down Frederick (from Leblond to the YMCA).
1. Dodged about 20 potholes and roadkill
2. The majority of the race/parade spectators were missing at least three teeth
3. Saw two 11 year-olds making out in front of their parents (I almost lost it when
I saw this!)
4. The entire race course, I was breathing in fresh cigarette smoke (second-hand,
of course)
5. Emmitt was dancing at the finish line...ok, this one isn't true...LOL.
I finished the race sometime between 27:30 and 27:59. I'm not sure yet as the race results haven't been posted, I wasn't wearing my Garmin, and because someone was standing right in front of the time board blocking the seconds! I'm pretty certain it was over 27:30 though. But, I'm pretty sure my average pace was UNDER 9 minute miles, which is good for me even not pregnant! So, I was thrilled!
As for the most recent pregnancy news....we got to have a sonogram last Monday. A friend of mine is a nurse practitioner and works at a local non-profit where abortion minded girls go for counseling regarding options they have other than abortion. Well, this friend offered me a free sonogram at that clinic! I was of course really excited and of course emailed her (and texted her!) to set up an appt. So, we went last Monday when I was 13 weeks, 3 days. We heard the heartbeat again (172 bpm), saw the spine and femur bones, saw the baby's hands...the baby was really moving around a lot which is so surreal to see b/c you can't feel a thing! Crazy! She measured the head and it measured at 13 weeks, 5 days (to which I responded "oh, our baby's already advanced!"..again, those of you who know me will know that I WOULD say something like that, jokingly.) It was too early to tell the sex, but she said I could come back at 15 weeks or anytime, and she could tell us the sex. I'm a little torn about what to do b/c I don't want to have our sonogram with the doctor at 20 weeks and not be excited about hearing the sex for the first time. She'd probably think I was a freak if I was like, "oh, I already knew that. I've already had two sonograms!". Coach, being the patient one of the two of us, thinks we should just wait until 20 weeks with the doctor. So, we'll see......
The race started at 9:15 and the weather was perfect for short sleeves and shorts/capris. I opted to wear a pair of running capris which I normally love b/c they're not too tight around the waist (and that is really crucial to me right now). However, the only other runs I've worm them on were longer runs where I had my fuel belt on me. Little did I know that the fuel belt was really good at holding these capris up. Because I literally pulled those pants up somewhere around 50 times throughout the 5k! Annoying! But, glad I figured that out while doing a short run.
Anywho, the first 1/2 mile of the race was uphill...during which I thought I was going to hyperventilate and die (not kidding). My mental devil was in my head telling me that I should just quit at the top of the hill (that is where my family would be standing for the race/parade)....that I've run the first three and a half months of my pregnancy and I can no longer do it. But, I got to the top of the hill and saw my family all waving at me. Then, most importantly, I saw my 4 year old nephew Jackson waving at me (he's never seen me running before, but we talk a lot about it) and, I know it's silly, but he just had this proud look on his face and that gave me the push I needed to continue. That, and the fact that I new the rest of the race was downhill helped my mental state at that point.
Those of you from St. Joe will appreciate my observations on the race course down Frederick (from Leblond to the YMCA).
1. Dodged about 20 potholes and roadkill
2. The majority of the race/parade spectators were missing at least three teeth
3. Saw two 11 year-olds making out in front of their parents (I almost lost it when
I saw this!)
4. The entire race course, I was breathing in fresh cigarette smoke (second-hand,
of course)
5. Emmitt was dancing at the finish line...ok, this one isn't true...LOL.
I finished the race sometime between 27:30 and 27:59. I'm not sure yet as the race results haven't been posted, I wasn't wearing my Garmin, and because someone was standing right in front of the time board blocking the seconds! I'm pretty certain it was over 27:30 though. But, I'm pretty sure my average pace was UNDER 9 minute miles, which is good for me even not pregnant! So, I was thrilled!
As for the most recent pregnancy news....we got to have a sonogram last Monday. A friend of mine is a nurse practitioner and works at a local non-profit where abortion minded girls go for counseling regarding options they have other than abortion. Well, this friend offered me a free sonogram at that clinic! I was of course really excited and of course emailed her (and texted her!) to set up an appt. So, we went last Monday when I was 13 weeks, 3 days. We heard the heartbeat again (172 bpm), saw the spine and femur bones, saw the baby's hands...the baby was really moving around a lot which is so surreal to see b/c you can't feel a thing! Crazy! She measured the head and it measured at 13 weeks, 5 days (to which I responded "oh, our baby's already advanced!"..again, those of you who know me will know that I WOULD say something like that, jokingly.) It was too early to tell the sex, but she said I could come back at 15 weeks or anytime, and she could tell us the sex. I'm a little torn about what to do b/c I don't want to have our sonogram with the doctor at 20 weeks and not be excited about hearing the sex for the first time. She'd probably think I was a freak if I was like, "oh, I already knew that. I've already had two sonograms!". Coach, being the patient one of the two of us, thinks we should just wait until 20 weeks with the doctor. So, we'll see......
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