I bested my normal five mile run time and finished 35/59 in my division. On race day it rained. A drizzly soaking warmish rain. A little miserable by the end honestly.
I learned a few things:
- hydrate better. I lost at least five minutes on my time standing at the port-a-potty at mile one because I chugged a bottle of water an hour before the race.
- train better to find my happy pace. I played leap frog with several other racers. Very tortoise and hare type stuff. My natural running stride is long. So, I'd run, pass people, get out of breath and slow down. Then said people with their short jog/trot would pass me. I'd get my breath back and take off again. Repeat, repeat, repeat. I tried to pace people who were doing the tortoise pace and it was really unnatural for me.
- eat something. I didn't eat before I went. The race started at eight. It was a 30 minute drive, I knew parking would be hard to find, and I still had to pick up my bib. So I left the house at six. I don't eat breakfast at six. Yuck. I could feel it dragging on me later. Most specifically as I stumbled my way back to the car after the race was over. I think next time I need to have a protein shake before I go.
- find someone to run with me. Hearing my name announced at the finish line was so great! However, it was also disappointing because I crossed and walked to my car to leave. There was no one there to share my achievement.
- smile. I tried to smile as I neared the cameras at the finish line, I swear I did. However, pretty sure it was much more of a grimace. ;)
Progress...one step at a time.
