Spring Thaw 20-miler

Spring Thaw 20 Mile Race Report!

Friday, I ran a VERY short run, 4 miles on the treadmill before work.  I even forced myself to stretch before I left.  When I came home, I was very tired and felt a little worn down.  Hoping I wasn't catching whatever the children in my preschool classroom were all out with this week, I took a half an hour nap.  This is something that I am not very skilled at, so I must have needed it. 

Jordan and I made pasta together and I ate a lot of carbs.  We made Chicken in Spinach Vodka Sauce with penne noodles.  I had a big hunk of bread and made banana bread for dessert.  I am a big believer in eating lots of carbs before doing a long run.  I have tried eating a smaller meal, with a low amount of carbs, twice before running a training run of 20+ miles.  HORRIBLE.  I had to cut the run short both times, eat carbs the rest of the day, and do it again the next day.  I guess it could be mental, but I felt extremely weak and tired when I have done that.

Anyways, the race the next day was not until 10am so I didn't wake up till around 7.  I had a pre-race meal that worked very well for me, oatmeal made with milk and a little bit of peanut butter and pecans, and a cup of caffeinated breakfast tea.  I am definitely more of a coffee drinker, but it kind of makes me want to throw up when I run.  It has happened....

Garmin Fiasco.
First of all, I was charging my Gamin last night, and Jordan turned off the power source.  When I woke up, it was dead so I had to charge it in just an hour and a half - not that long, and still on Low Battery.   Next, we got to the race at about 9:15.  Jordan had me jump out of the car at the registration table, and I shouted something about bringing my bag to me at the start.  He did not hear me, so we met up at 9:40 and I did NOT have my Garmin.  I started to get upset, because I really wanted to use it to look at my splits, pace, etc.  Jordan rushed off with Penny in tow, grabbed the next shuttle, rode to the ice rink while the bus driver waited, took the bus back, and gave me my Garmin with 5 minutes to spare, just in time for me to meet up with some friends at the start.  I am so thankful he did this for me!


Garmin Splits: (I know the course is 20 miles and my Garmin just tracks where I go on the race course, but here is what my Garmin said I did)
20.33 miles, 2:26:01, 7:10 pace

7:16

7:20

7:16

7:13

7:17

7:18

7:19

7:11

7:09

7:15

7:14

7:17

7:10

7:08

7:05

6:57

7:13

6:59

7:03

7:05

.33 2:06 @ 6:19

The first 10, I got to run with my friend, Moira, which was awesome.  It really helped me from being bored.  The course is a five mile loop that you run multiple times during the race.  The race has a 10, 15, and 20 mile option.  The first two laps, there are lots of people around because you are not as spread out, and a lot of people do the ten miler.  I had some speedy friends do very well in the 10 mile race. 

I knew mentally after Moira finished I had to break up the last half by laps, because 10 miles is a lot to think about at once.  I wanted to hang on to my pace for the third lap, and that would be my focus.  I passed  a good deal of runners this lap, but not many of them were doing the 20 miler.  I saw my parents twice this lap, which was exciting.  I told them I still felt very good - but had 7 left!

What was rough about the last lap was that no one I passed was doing the 20 mile race.  It was very lonely out there, and I had to motivate myself by reminding myself how hard I worked to keep a good pace: I would hate to blow it in the last few miles.  I was feeling a little heavy-legged, but wasn't feeling too tired till the last mile and a half.  I was pretty tired.  When the boathouse came in view, I was very relieved and appreciated the downhill finish.  I crossed the finish line in an official time of 2:25:57.  The people at the finish line told me I may have actually been the first woman to finish, which was cool.  A little bit later I found out I was second - first place actually crushed me with an amazing time of 2:08:43!  I wasn't disappointed at all because I know I am NOT capable of beating that time! 
Official (non-Garmin) Times  - happy each lap got faster!

36:59           36:50          36:30          35:40      2:25:57

7:17 pace

Overall, I had a great time at this race running with friends, and being cheered on by my puppy and family. 
The race was convenient for me because it was only 15 minutes from my house, and I am (too) familiar with the course.  You got a lot of things for the $25 dollar race fee (Pizza and soup afterwards, gels and water every 1.5miles, people to run with, and the things below)
Shirt for registering, gloves for 15 miles, hat for 20 miles

Ouch

Finally done!

Cute Cheerleaders

She slept the rest of the day after being at the park for four hours!

I definitely pushed myself, but I like to think I had more in the tank because today I got faster each lap, and was not dying on my five mile recovery run this morning.  My calves are sore, but I don't feel like I pushed my body to the breaking point like I try to in a marathon.  This run helps me feel more confident about maintaining a 7:15 pace during the Pittsburgh marathon...I hope I can redeem myself there after last year's disappointing race!

Thank you if you came to watch the race or ran with me :)