shivy run: Race Report: Tabb High School 5k

The race prep started Friday night with trying to go to bed early since I had to pick J up at 4am to drive down for the race. I was packed and in bed just after 9 with a 3am alarm set, joy. Except that J called around 11 asking me to remember to bring some things and I totally thought it was the alarm and I just kept trying to hit my phone to (unsuccessfully) turn the alarm off. It took me until after I hung up on him to realize what was going on and really, I was right back asleep. I was so incredibly tired this past weekend, I'm not sure how exactly I woke up at 3, packed the car with luggage, baby and dogs, and picked J up. And did not sleep at all in the car, even driving some of the way. So, pulling in at 7 just in time to get dressed for an 8am race probably wasn't the best start to the race day, but eh, we worked it.

I started right up front with J (literally, it was the line, him, then me) and it was a little overwhelming to have everyone passing me as I was running and trying to get my music started. I'm so used to the huge buttons on my Nike app that the little buttons on the regular ipod were a little difficult to manage. And I just couldn't shake the jitters. It was nice to be on a familiar course though, and I felt like I got into a rhythm pretty quickly and hit the first mile under 10 minutes! I felt good and on pace and didn't even stop to walk at the water station like I was intending to allow myself to do. I mean, I still got water, but it was quite a messy affair. I am pretty much the worst water grabber ever. The first time, the guy was on my left, and if I move my left arm, my armband pops off, so I tried reaching across, or something, I'm not sure what I did, but I did end up with water all over my wrists. Which, when running, not so bad, even if it was a little chilly. But the poor girl at the water station when I tried to grab a cup on the second pass, because I got us both (sorry, I didn't mean to splash you!). I really feel that my second mile was the best, and I really wish I remember my splits, but alas, my poor grasp of numbers extends to remembering them as well. I do remember it being fairly decent though.

I do remember looking at my watch around 26 minutes and thinking, huh, I have 3, just under 4 minutes, to make my top goal. I can totally do it! And I rounded the bend and saw the high school where the finish line is, and J met me and tried to cheer me on (I don't take well to cheering at the end of a race), and... I didn't do it. I met 2/3 goals, but I missed my under 30 by 32 seconds. I was so incredibly disappointed in myself. Like verge of tears, why didn't I push myself harder, disappointed. I did tell B that I probably would have been on the verge of tears even if I made it, but at least those would have been happy tears. It was just hard because even though I know I did so well, I know I was so close to doing better.

We hung out for a while to let O run around, but it started to get chilly, and in just shorts, I was totally ready to go. Then, they announced awards would be soon. And I looked around and realized that I wasn't quite sure what my age group would be, but I was pretty sure there weren't very many people that looked my age. So, I asked if we could stay just a little bit longer, which totally paid off! You guys, I got third place in my age group!! I won a medal YAY! Seriously, still so excited about this. I remember field day in elementary school and I never won a ribbon, which was always so upsetting to me. I was so close one year, but my partner dropped our water balloon and we were out. Sigh. All I wanted was a ribbon of some kind. I had one good event in my presidential challenge in high school (v sit and reach) and am pretty sure I had to redo the mile challenge once because I was all like, um yea, I don't run. And now I took third. In running! I've been all like eff yea I'm awesome! And it pretty much made up for not reaching my under 30 goal because now I have a medal, ha.