After Thoughts Of The Gasparilla 15K

This post is an updated race report. There may be some repeats!!!!

It's been 3 days since the race and I'm still pretty thrilled! I also found out that Ryan Hall ran it too! So I can say I ran a 15K with Olympian Ryan Hall. Ok, so I didn't actually run WITH him, but I saw him fly past when I was at about mile 3-4. He was approaching mile 8....LOL.

The crowd was screaming as he ran past, but I thought they were yelling because the first wheelchairs were coming in. Little did I know, the blue and black blur racing past was Ryan Hall. He finished in 43 minutes, right about when I was hitting the half way point. Very exciting stuff!

Here are the results from the race page. I feel very good about these numbers!

Age: 42 Gender: F
Distance 15K
Clock Time 01:26:54
Chip Time 01:25:08
Overall Place 1671 / 4204
Gender Place 554 / 2055
Division Place 68 / 268
Age Grade 57%
Pace 9:08.0
Half 0:41:12

I had to go into this race with a different state of mind. I trained for distance from the start of my running. That included hitting the water stops with a 30-60 second walk break. The training runs I did with Reg had a few rough spots. I realized that every time I stopped for one of these breaks my legs were so fatigued and crampy that it was very difficult to get going again. Even in a 3 mile run! Reg suggested I try to run through it, not stop for the breaks. It went against EVERYTHING I believed in. Walk breaks were a part of my distance running. But things have changed. My feet and legs needed a new approach.

A few days before the race we had a 3.25 mile easy run. Not even 2 miles out I could feel the usual problems. I told Reg I thought I needed to walk already. He looked over at me and didn't say anything. Normally at this time I would walk. I decided to try to see how far I could get. I started thinking about what I'd be wearing to the race, the size of the expo, Bondi Bands!!! I stopped thinking about my legs and feet. Next thing I knew we were done. Reg was right, I needed to just run straight out, no stops. Could I do that for a 15K???

I stood at the starting line, Reg and I talking to the people around us for awhile. It occurred to me that this might be my last decent distance race, I have accepted I won't be doing any more marathons. This race was the test. I promised myself at that precise moment to try not to stop at all. What did I have to lose? Worse case scenario was that I'd stroll over the finish line at a 17 minute pace. Best case was I'd get a new PR.

Away we went. We dodged fellow runners, walkers and parked cars. We stayed together, our pace changing with the availability of space and finding those spots we could jump into. We found a steady crowd doing our 9 minute pace at about 2-3 miles and stayed with them for a mile or so. At the 4 mile marker I was sweaty and feeling like I was ready for a water/walk break. As I came up on the water table I slowed to take a cup and instantly decided NOT to walk. Try running while sipping water. I almost laughed! I slowed to about 10:30 pace for that but caught back up to Reg, back in the 9 minute pace.

My right foot was cramped up. Can I please catch a break, just for today????? The sharp pains in my quads said no. I said to myself...."Self, is that a favorite song on your iPod"?? Why yes self, it sure is!!!! I put my eyes on the man in front of me, letting my feet keep up with his tempo. Glancing at my Garmin we were at a 9 minute pace. Cool! I let my mind wander back to the man I was following and my music and I felt lighter.

By the time I saw the 7 mile marker, I started to worry about holding this pace. I also realized I had lost the man I was behind and Reg was getting further away from me. Garmin said I was still at the 9 minute pace, so Reg had sped up. I saw him looking for me, I could see him, but he had lost me. Too many people for him to be looking behind. I was kinda glad because I didn't want to hold him back. Being able to keep him in my sights for the mental support was awesome though.

By mile 8 I was hurting. Once again I lost myself in my music and the person in front of me. It was harder to do the meditation-type thing by now. I pictured myself at the end of one of our 3 mile runs. Mind over matter does help! Next thing I knew, I was in sights of the finish line. Relief took over and I felt that shot of adrenaline. I sped up a little, just wanting to be done. I had lost sight of Reg by then, but I knew he'd be at the finish.

I almost knocked someone over getting across that line. I yelled out SORRY!!! But I was sooooo relieved to be done. Relieved and very happy. With a new PR of 1:25:08!!

So here's where I'm at now. The 15K is going to be my marathon. It's a decent distance, it's a chance to compete at a different level than the 5K fun runs and it still requires some training. I love the training part.

Running the Gasparilla 15K taught me something about endurance. Endurance isn't just running a marathon. It's overcoming the obstacles life can throw at you. When life throws you lemons, don't just make lemonade....jump over that lemon tree.

To the lemons, I say....I WIN!!!

Gasparilla 15K

Reg came and picked me up at 5:15am. This would be my 2nd 15K.

• We parked and walked across the street to the the expo for packet pick up. There were thousands of people there. I told Reg I always get a funny feeling when I see so many runners gathered together. Running can be such a lone sport that I sometimes feel alone out on the road. Like I'm the only person who runs. But when I go to the big races I'm overwhelmed with the camaraderie of my fellow runner.

• Publix was a major sponsor for this race and there were Publix banners everywhere! My husband had to work today and couldn't come with us. As I looked all around at the Publix signs I thought of my husband, who works for Publix. I could picture him in his shirt and tie, looking so handsome. But enough abouthim....and Publix...LOL

• Reg once again let me know he was running this race with me. Once again I had mixed feelings about that. I was glad to have him with me, but I didn't want to hold him back. He gave us a finish time of about 1:30. My last 15K PR was 1:40, so I felt comfy with this goal. I felt hopeful too.

• The first 2 miles were the bunny hop, dodging walkers, stoppers and even a few parked cars. We kept to a 9-9:30 pace for this. It was a little warm and very sunny but it felt great. I didn't really work up a sweat until about 4 miles. By then the crowd had thinned out a bit and running was easier. At about mile 6 I felt the first sign of the dreaded muscle cramping, especially in my right foot. I was worried if I had trouble Reg would stay, so I kinda hung back a little, keeping him in my sights for mental support. By mile 7 I knew he couldn't see me and he did go faster. I think I lost sight of him by mile 8 or so.

• I kept watching my Garmin and was so surprised to see I was holding the 9-9:30 pace. Earlier in the week I decided to try to run this one without any stop/walk breaks. I have a really hard time getting going again once I stop and walk so I just wanted to get as far as I could. This was tough at mile 8. The pain in my feet alone made me want to stop, but I had something to prove to myself today. So I kept going. My doctor did tell me I'd get used to the pain and he was right. A few times I actually let myself think I was going to make it. =P

• Mile marker 9 was a sight, I'll tell ya. The timer said something CRAZY, like 1:17. Plus take 2 minutes off that for my true time start. Wow, no way! As I came around a bend I could see the finish line. Like a true endurance runner, I reached into the tank for a strong finish. I soooo love the feeling of crossing a finish line with some energy left in me. This time I was surprised to find some...haha!

• I looked up at the green and white balloons with the Publix sign as I crossed the finish. I thought of Bobby at work and I could see him smile in my mind. He was going to be so proud of me!

• Reg came running over yelling my finish time.

• 1:23!!!!

• I'll admit tears came to my eyes, I still can't get over it! Reg finished in 1:20!! We are thrilled with our results. All the running we've been doing really paid off. I am extremely happy today. I ran with a great friend. I found a distance I can accomplish. I got a new PR. Shaved almost 20 minutes off my last PR!

• And when I talked to Bobby he said what I knew he'd say: "I'm so proud of you!"

Boca Grande 5K Race Results

This is my 3rd time running Boca. It's one of my favorite races because of the beauty all around. I'm usually so busy looking around that I miss all the mile markers. Every time I get to the 3 mile marker I feel so surprised!

This is the first race where I decided to get the t-shirt in my size. I always get them for my husband, who gets a kick out of wearing these shirts when he doesn't even run. I felt a little remorseful as I put the shirt in the car, wondering if I should run back in and switch the size. But I didn't.

Reg and I made our way to the starting line and chatted with everyone. We were just behind the elites, who were the sub 6 minute pacers. Let me just say this...they're mostly the 16-19 year old track team with their skinny little legs that become a blur when the starting horn goes off....whateva! LOL

I was talking to some friends and lost Reg, but I figured after our half marathon disaster, he was staying away from me. Before he disappeared though, he pointed to some orange cones. I promised him the orange cones on Boca Grande wouldn't get him. These are runner friendly orange cones. He didn't look convinced. In fact, I think he was having flashbacks...

So the horn goes off, we start running. After about 3 minutes I realize I forgot to turn on my Garmin. SHOOT! I hit the on button and kept going, looking up ahead for Reg and the people I try to keep up with. I was surprised to have Ed, Josephine and Mary still in my sights. Well hey!! I decided to hold my pace instead of thinking I was going too fast. That's what happens to me when I race. I get worried about going out too fast, which makes me hold back. Endurance training is hard to kick, but I'm making a huge attempt to switch out to short distance thinking...

By half a mile in, the crowd thinned. Seemed pretty early for that, but what do I know??? As I passed the 1 mile marker I heard a hello and looked to my left. It was Reg!! Turns out he had gone to the back of the starting line, not realizing he was facing the wrong way. He said when the horn went off and the crowd ran off he was left behind. *chuckling right now* teehee!!! (Reg, I'm sorry for laughing but that was the funniest thing I've ever heard....LOL!!! So anyway, Reg had to book it to catch up. He ran with me for a little while and then took off.

At about 2.75 miles out I heard someone running behind me, catching up. I kept my pace and watched a woman run by me. I decided she wasn't in my age group, so I let her go instead of hip-checking her like a pro hockey player. When I saw mile marker 3, I was feeling good so I kicked it up a notch or two and ran by Little Miss Passer. I was right behind Mary! No freakin way!! I thought about trying to pass her, but I had "Sylvia's Mother" by Dr Hook playing on my "NEW iPod SHUFFLE THAT MY SWEETIE GOT ME FOR VALENTINE'S DAY" . It's hot pink too, my fave color!!!! Lalalalalala!!!! Anyway, kept me kinda mellow and feeling the '70's love so I stayed right behind her instead. I could hear Little Miss Passer behind me and planned to keep her there just in case she WAS in my age group. I'm no dummy.

Ran through the finish line and was pleasantly surprise to see the runners who are usually at the water stations by the time I come through. Turns out I had a new PR folks. Lemme say that again: I GOT A NEW PR FOLKS!!!!! YES!!! My last PR was 27:25. My new PR is 26:34. Almost a full minute shave!!! Oh, I'm liking this. I'm also shocked since I've been having all this trouble with my muscles, but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Another very sweet thing happened after the race. A man I've never seen before came up to me and told me he saw me coming out of nowhere. He said I was flying toward the finish line and said it was pretty cool to watch. AWWWWWW Mr Runner Friend, how sweet you are! Wish I knew who he was so I could ask him to post those beautiful words here for all to see....lol

I saw Little Miss Passer and called out to her...we laughed and sat together for the awards. Her real name is Dianne and she's from Syracuse, NY. She's in the 55-59 age group (coulda fooled me). I was glad I didn't hip check her. She was a nice lady!!!

The awards ceremony was eventful too. I won a door prize. You won't believe it, but I got a second t-shirt with a paid voucher for next year's race! I was thrilled about the t-shirt because now Bobby has one too!

I placed 3rd in my age group, Reg placed 3rd in his too, at 25:28 (GO REG!!!).

Next race is Saturday up in Tampa. The Gasparilla 15K. This will give me a chance to find a decent distance race to run while I'm figuring out my new limitations. Full marrys are out. Might attempt another half. I want to see what this 15K will leave me feeling.