Run Happy

I started race morning by choking down a peanut butter pita and crying happy tears while reading this article by Lauren Fleshman about feminism and female athletes titled “Do I Look Like a Man?”.  The tagline is:  “Female athletes come in all shapes and sizes and our definition of femininity has to catch up.”  Read it.

 

It was the perfect article to read on my way to a women’s half-marathon, where the theme was the empowerment of women and girls.  I had been feeling emotional about this race ever since Wednesday morning when I went outside for my last 5:00 AM run and was able to watch the entire progression of the lunar eclipse.  It felt like a reward for all of the pre-dawn runs I had put in over the summer.  Things coming into alignment at exactly the right time.  
 

 

October morning:

thick fog and lunar eclipse

reflective vest bobs

 

The day before the race I was nervous. On my way to work that morning the sight of the Porta Potties being set up in front of the casino almost gave me an anxiety attack.  But at the Expo Friday night, I settled down.  Maybe it was the balloons and the tutus and the Queen Bee wine glasses, but for the first time I realized that this was supposed to be fun.  And that maybe I shouldn’t take myself so seriously.  (#4 Loosen Up!) 

 

Over pita pizzas and beer, Donnie made me a pace chart.  Admittedly, it was a little late in the game to talk about pace, especially since I had set my A, B, C, and D goals weeks in advance: 

A) Break 1:35

B) Place in the top 5

C) Break 1:40

D) Place in the top 10

Obviously C and D were back up goals in case A and B didn’t work out.  Notice that “Have fun!” was nowhere on the list.  Did I mention that #4 “Loosen Up” isn’t going so hot?”

 

 

But on Saturday morning, Eminem’s “Lose Yourself” was on the radio, the weather was a perfect 45 degrees, and Alison Delgado, who inspires me more than any runner on the planet, spoke at the opening ceremony.

My first mile into Eden Park was at a 7:13 pace, about a minute faster than I had planned for the steep incline.  But the pace felt easy and I decided to keep it up as long as it felt good.  If I’ve learned anything from #6 “Study Yoga” it’s that I should listen to my body, push it just up to the edge, and then let it go.  Take advantage of the rare opportunity to get out of my head.    

By mile four the hard uphills were behind me and I realized I was having fun.  I had a wtf moment because racing is never fun for me.  My experience with the 5k is that it is a twenty minute torture chamber that burns my lungs and leaves every muscle in my body, including the ones in my face, sore for days.   But the half marathon?  Fun. 

 

It wasn’t until pretty far out on Eastern Avenue that my pace started to slow and I had to be intentional about pumping my arms and increasing my turnover.  I was struggling to maintain a 7:00 mile.  But then three things happened: 1) I saw the Girls on the Run group and got a bunch of high fives—love this organization, 2) One of the spectator crews was passing out leis so I took one and swung it over my head like a lasso, and 3) I ran into Coach Matt Flege who paced me for a mile when I really needed the extra focus.

 

 

With a half mile left to go, I was struggling for third place and saw Donnie on the course.  He said, “Now you GO.”  Just like a Bikram Yoga instructor.  And I tried so hard, but I had no kick left.  I got passed with about twenty feet to go and ended up in what I thought was fourth place.  Turns out it was really fifth place because the person who finished just behind me started a few seconds after the gun and had a faster chip time.  But it was A-OK because the clock said 1:31:38—about five minutes faster than I had hoped for.

 

And I made the leaderboard:

 

 

Look at the time for the first-place finisher.  Amazing.  

And then, to cap it all off, I got a picture with Gold Medalist Mary Wineburg, who had just run the four-mile race while 26 weeks pregnant.  Another inspiration.   

 

 

Today my knees ache a little bit and I plan to eat the house starting with an entire tub of cottage cheese.  But overall I’m feeling overwhelmingly grateful for my health.  And for all of the amazing women (and men) who inspire me to run strong, run happy, and have fun.  And maybe even loosen up. 

Splits: 7:13, 7:28, 6:53, 6:53, 6:33, 6:48, 6:43, 7:02, 6:51, 6:55, 7:01, 7:05, 6:55

 

-K.