Popsicle 5K Race Report {2016}

Today marked the 2nd time I ran the Popsicle 5K (last year’s race report here).  I’m not sure I’ll do it again… it was rough today.  Hubby ran it also, and had a rough one.  I know I’m in good company with rough races.  My witty and poignant friend Caroline wrote about her tough marathon here, and an elite runner I follow Stephanie Bruce dished about getting her period during her race last week.  Keepin’ it real!

This year was sorta the opposite of last year, and I thought in a good way.  I signed Gabe up last year, but ended up going solo when J had to work, so I left the boys with my friend.  Mocksville is about a 30 min drive so the whole race event was lonely for me.  After I ran, I grabbed and bagel and boogied home.  Later they mailed me my medal, which was really cool.  This year, I had signed up J for the 5K as part of our training program.  There was a Fun Run, so I signed Gabe up, so we brought our baby-sitter S to watch the boys while we did the 5K.

Unlike last year, the temps were in the 40’s–compared to last year’s 20’s–so I was on the fence last night on what to wear.  I didn’t need layers, but was it too cold for shorts?  Too warm for pants?  I settled on my new Fabletics tights (because I love how they look!) and a tank top, with Steelers long sleeve over it (it was the only shirt that matched the tights and felt the right warmth, if that makes sense).  I didn’t need gloves or a hat, and should’ve worn sunglasses but didn’t.  I got #179 and J was #178.  We did a quick 5 min warm up, I took my GU and hit up the bathroom.  Things were going great, altho in hindsight I probably should have warmed up longer.  The boys seemed a bit crabby but not bad, so I wished J good luck and we were on the way!

The first portion is a gradual uphill, and I could tell immediately my legs didn’t have any kinda “pep in the step.”  They just felt… heavy.  My energy level seemed fine.  As I reflected on this week, I remembered the two days of terrible nasal congestion, that affected my sleep and work and workouts.  I thought I fueled and hydrated well but perhaps the congestion took a toll.  It’s that time of the month, but usually that doesn’t have any effect.  So, I tried to shake the heavy legs feeling, but I couldn’t get in a good rhythm.  In mile 1, my back felt tight, the sun was in my eyes, and I just wanted the race to be over.  Mile 1 split was 7:54, way off my goal pace of 7:20-7:30.  I still kept up a positive self-talk, but mile 2 proved to be awful.

Last year’s course was sort of out-and-back, with a quick loop in a cul-de-sac.  Mostly flat, and a nice downhill to the finish.  I know J hates hills, so I sang the praises of this race.  Aaaand of course they changed the route this year to make it safer (less Main Street, I guess?  I did almost get hit by a truck last year… I conveniently left that out of last year’s race report).  So in changing the route, they added some major hills.  I felt dismayed.  I knew my shot of a PR were out the window, so I focused on trying to beat last year’s time [24:40].  I pushed as hard as I could, but my legs wouldn’t go any faster and my breathing never got any less labored.  Mile 2 was a disheartening 8:06.

At this point, I just wanted to finish.  When I’m feeling down the way I was, I start thinking about how thankful I am to have my family’s support–my boys waiting at the finish line–and how grateful I am that my body is strong and relatively pain-free.  I zoned out a bit, and felt great on the downhills, but the uphills and all the turns threw me.  Mile 3 was 8:46.  I had no kick at the finish, I was just glad to be done.  I thought I was maybe #3 or #4 for women, so I just hoped for #3 so I could get a medal 😉

The boys and S were waiting for me, so I caught my breath for a few minutes.  I was totally spent.  Didn’t even have the energy to get water.  Gabe & I waited for Daddy while S pushed Asher on the swings, as he was getting very fussy.  We waited… and waited.  I started to worry, wondering if he somehow missed a turn.  I figured the hills were brutal for him, and I was right.  His last 5K time at the Turkey Strut was 33 minutes or so, but today… 41 minutes.  I could tell he felt defeated.  My hopes for both of us to have a great race were destroyed.

I had to beg Gabe to do the fun run.  I think he was scared that I would lose him in the crowd.  As it turns out, there weren’t many people doing it, and it was pretty relaxed.  I just timed us on my watch, and we ran up the road about 100 meters, and back.  I was proud that he at least did it, because I could tell he wasn’t feeling it.  We grabbed some popsicles, and snacks.

We didn’t win anything during the raffle.  I slurped down some taco soup and felt a bit better. We got some crackers for Asher and he quit acting so crabby, altho he certainly made our baby-sitter earn her money, with all his crazy antics.

They finally posted the results and I saw that I won my age group (I kinda figured since I only saw in front of me a teenager, and a lady I knew from previous races was not in my age group).  Here’s the messed up part though–they announced men’s overall winners, then went straight into age groups awards.  Ummm… where are the women’s overall awards?  I thought it was a mistake, but when I came home I remembered that I got a 1st place award mailed to me last year, even though I got 2nd overall last year.  So they gave out 3 extra awards to men, unless I’m missing something?!  It doesn’t sit well with me.  Anyways… mini rant over.  {I contacted the race director/site, and they said it was an oversight and will fix next year.  Pretty big oversight tho!}

I’m grateful to win a medal, and for the opportunity to race and have my family cheering me on.

Apparently, they cheered pretty hard:

I think I need to train for speed a bit more, and dial in my nutrition better too.  Ever since our Puerto Rico trip, I’ve been carrying 5 extra lbs that I haven’t really cared about until today, and I’ve also been eating generally healthy, but pretty much what I want.  If I want cookies, I have them.  Fortunately, my sweet tooth has been tame lately, and having a square of dark chocolate each day seems to keep it at bay.  My desire to get faster is strong, so I’m going to focus on the next race, St. Leo’s 10K, in one month.  My confidence is shaken but I know I can beat last year’s time if I train well and focus.  And if I don’t?  It’ll still be fun trying.  I need to write a post someday about why I run, but the short story is that running is my therapy.  It’s works out all my worries, and eases my stress and fears.  When I was deployed in Iraq (7 years ago now!) it saved me from depression and some very, very dark days.  Feeling healthy & strong, the way I do when I run, keeps me at my best.  So I can be the best wife, momma, daughter, sister, friend, etc that I can be 🙂

Thank you for reading!!

xoxo,
V