My Very First 5k Race Report "Huckleberry Hustle"

OY! That was SO much harder than I thought it was going to be!

I guess in my convoluted mind I envisioned running the whole 3.1 miles easily! HA I didn't even run the intervals that I had been doing with the C25K training!

Let's back up a little...I made sure I had all my workout clothes clean so I could decide what I wanted to wear and I also got the boys dressed in some comfy shorts and shirts for their "Berry Dash". I even dressed Isabel in some little running shorts and her tennis shoes. I had David take a picture of her and I before we left because we decided that it would be best for my baby to go stay with Grammy while the rest of us went to the race because she would've had to sit in the stroller for about two hours and the race start time (7:00pm) is her bedtime and she was already cranky.

I told David to make sure he got her shorts and shoes in the picture! ugh! He does that all the time...one day I'll post some of his pictures where he didn't follow instructions! lol

The kids did the "Little Berry Dash" at 6:30pm. I thought it was going to be a short little run down a straightaway but they ran around the block of the old fashioned town. I should probably mention that the race was at a place called Crossroads Village. Its a early 1900's town that you can tour and learn about how things were done at the turn of the 20th century. They stopped at each corner to get a prize and finished back where they started. The boys seemed to enjoy it but Jacob fell once and his braced leg was really turning in while running. Jacob was born with an underdeveloped nerve in his left leg so he has to wear a brace to support his foot because he cannot move it or hold it up.

Jacob (my 5 year old) after the second "goody" stop.

They're shirts were WAY too big! The lady called to ask what size I wanted for them and when I told her how old they were she recommended mediums...she was WRONG! lol Oh well, they'll be able to wear them for a LONG time! :)

Then it was MY turn! Oh shit! I was so nervous standing there waiting for what seemed like FOREVER! I chatted a little bit with a lady that is also doing the Crim Training Program, but as a runner. There was no gun that went off and no announcer yelling "GO" over a loud speaker or anything...everybody ahead of me just started moving...OH SHIT...here we go! *Pardon my language but I'm giving you my honest thoughts. : )* It was at this point that I made my first mistake! I started off running WAY TOO FAST! I was caught up in the crowd and trying to move with them, but I was also not wanting to look like a snail when I passed David and the boys because David has never watched me run and I didn't want to disappoint my long distance running husband.

Another photo showing off my husband's awesome centering skills...or maybe he was intentionally trying to get a picture of the cute skinny lady in pink...hmmm?

When I got around the VERY FIRST corner I was gasping for air and already wanted to stop running. I slowed my pace WAY down and started chugging along...but my throat and lungs were burning with every breath. It was like all of the training I've been doing for the last 5 weeks never happened and of course David ran over to the next block to see me again and I was thinking oh crap, well David, this is how I REALLY run. The boys were so cute though yelling "GO MAMA, GO MAMA!" I had set my Garmin up to beep at 8 minute/5 minute intervals. I figured if that was what I had last done with my C25K training that's what I'd be able to do for the race...WRONG!!! I did make it the first full 8 minutes running...but after that my intervals were shot.

I didn't think David would bring the boys out this far to watch me...they caught me walking so I had to pick up the pace.

I wish I could say that I did awesome and felt awesome, but that just wasn't the case. I started to get a headache almost immediately and I just felt completely drained of energy. I walked most of the way after that first 8 minutes of running, only running for a minute or so at a time. I know that I probably could of run for longer intervals but I just couldn't get my mind to focus on my breathing. The whole time I was thinking...Why in the hell did I think I could do this!!!??? I came close to tears a couple of times, but I pushed through, partially with the help of this lady I ended up walking/jogging near for most of the race. She was attempting to run but hadn't run in over a month and just found out she had a bladder infection the day before! We chatted and took turns running ahead of each other. She ultimately finished ahead of me. It was nice to have people along the way cheering me on...especially close to the end. They would see how I was struggling and say "You're almost there!" *Is it just me though, or do you have the same thoughts I do when someone tells you "You're almost there!"? I would simultaneously be thinking 'Thanks...that's awesome that you care!' and 'Almost there huh? Well, it feels like a million miles away to me!' lol

Bookin' it to the finish. You can just tell by looking at me that I'm going at the fastest turtle pace!

As soon as I came around the last corner and I got a glimpse of the finish line I started running....slow at first, but then I heard some little voices yelling...over and over again "GO MAMA, GO MAMA, GO MAMA..." I started smiling and giggling to myself. I saw my boys and my husband cheering me I and I went into roadrunner mode (for me...probably looked like scooter going full throttle to anyone else)! I crossed the finish line going as fast as I could muster for an official finish time of 48:26:15!

A nice older couple who got medals gave them to my boys...how sweet! : )

I'm glad I did it but it was so much harder than I thought and I wish I would've waited until I had been training a little longer. Although I do think that a lot of factors made it more difficult besides my lack of training and the obvious fact that it was much farther than my normal workout. It was a trail run and VERY uneven. Each step was on a different level...not to mention the dessert of SAND they had I go through at one point...I was seriously pissed when I saw all the sand. lol Lastly, the temperature. It was HOT!!! I'm use to running at dusk which means no sun beating down on me and usually significantly cooler temperatures. I felt like complete crap for the rest of the night. I had a major headache and felt sick to my stomach. I ended up going to bed early but tossed and turned until I finally got up at 1am and took an Imitrex for the migraine I had.

Needless to say...I'm SUPER nervous now for my next 5k which will be August 9th. I plan to get right back on my C25K training, but I think I'm going to repeat Week 5's second workout (8 min. run/5 min. walk) a few times. Can any experienced runners out there explain to me why they would have you go from 8 minutes running with 5 minutes of walking recovery in between to a workout of 20 minutes of straight running??? I may just skip that workout all together for now and move onto Week 6 which has 10 minute running intervals.

I hope everyone enjoys their weekend! I know I'm going to be taking it easy...until tomorrow night that is when I'll get back on my C25K training.

*Sorry this post is coming so late today. My kids were very needy today so I had to write it in little spurts and still couldn't finish it up until they were in bed.

Here's my splits...but like I said I was walking and running whenever so its not very accurate.