on being a (runner?!?)

If I may be so blunt.

I can’t believe I am a girl sitting at my computer writing about a race I ran this past weekend.

I always thought of this blog as a place to share the inner thoughts of my mind, the things nobody really cared about other than me, and a select few others…the more I travel this crazy journey, the more I realize I have a lot more to say with the intention for other people to hear.

When I crossed the finish line on Saturday morning, before 9am and Annesley looked at me and said “you BETTER blog about this race.” I didn’t suspect the thought would sit on my heart for the next 36 hours.  I worked out with Annesley this morning and now that I have reached a little lull in my day, I think she is right.
I have to blog about this.

14 months ago I decided I was going to do the Gasparilla Distance Classic 15k race.  I had previously completed two half marathons, but had done nothing near the 9+ miles of a 15k in the recent past.  I started training.  I actually trained really well in 2012.  I followed a schedule of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 mile training runs and I enjoyed the process.  I was really happy for myself when I crossed the finish line in 2012 in 2 hours 39 minutes and 08 seconds.  This is a great race that runs right in front of my apartment.  I pass my apartment twice, at miles 3 and 6.  I knew I would do the Gasparilla 15k again!

You guys reading this have probably been following my progress either vocally or covertly, so you know a lot has changed this year.  This year I signed up for the Gasparilla 15k without thinking about it.  No second guessing.  I’d get some long runs in, in addition to OTF—I knew I would finish the race!  That was 6 weeks ago.  Well, over the last 6 weeks I kinda forgot to get those long runs in.  I didn’t train well at ALL for this event.  I stayed true to my OTF routine, but I certainly did not get any mileage over 3.5miles in before Saturday morning February 23, 2013.

Friday night I picked up my race number.  I knew I would finish, but I had not thought at all about my timing of the race.  (remember-I hadn’t done a race longer than 3.1 miles since LAST Gasparilla)   I knew I could rock a 34-36 minute 5k…but could I sustain that pace for more than 9 miles?  So, what did I do…I PUBLICLY ANNOUNCED I wanted to finish the race in 1 hour 59 minutes 59 seconds.  Under 2 hours?  WHAT?  I have not trained…could I really sustain 12 minute 50 second miles for the whole race?

I sure as HECK was going to try.

Saturday morning I woke up at 5am to meet the OTF team.  Race number, new shorts (another size smaller!  Woo!) OTF tank, sunglasses, I was ready to run.  As we made our way to the race start much of our team lined up around the 8min mile pace…not my pace.  So the next part of my race day story flashes back to GDC 2012 briefly.

Last year when I ran with Deb and Steph (well, Deb ran well ahead of us) we initially found our place near the 11 min mile pace group.  Jim from Jim@marathonpacing.com said, “are you going to run with me.”  I smiled politely and laughed with him when I said, no sir…but have a great race.  As I was moving (slowly-not a jog, certainly not a run) down Bayshore around mile 4 last year, I saw Jim and his pace group running the other way down Bayshore around mile 6…I cheered for them and he in turn cheered back at me…but I was nowhere near his 11 min pace group…thankyou16minutemiles!

This Saturday morning I squarely stood between the 11:30 and 12:00 pace groups and looked up to see Pacer Jim holding the 12 minute sign.  I smiled brightly at him and said, “Jim, you may not remember this…but last year I did NOT run with you…this year, I would like to try.”  I was not sure whether I was going to be able to sustain a 12 min mile pace for 9+ miles…but I surely was going to try.

We sang, the wheelchairs started, the yellow group started, then we were off.  I started just a bit ahead of the 12 min guys…keeping just behind the 11:30 group for the first 2-3 miles.  I felt good, but as I hit 5k I also hit the place where I had exhausted my training. Thankfully I knew there would be (albeit small) a group of OTF supporters just about .5 miles ahead.  Fueled by a brief kiss from Chris at the corner by our apartment I plugged on.  After I passed Annesley’s husband I was not sure where my next support was going to come from…I was in a zone, had great music...but in my head I just thought, I just need to get to the turnaround—mentally then, all you have to do is get back to the beginning.   Just a few minutes later I heard him behind me “we are the 12 minute pace group.”  I smiled and kept running along.

For the next 2-3 miles I led the group, the group passed me, I pulled ahead of the group, the group passed me.  Some time around mile 6 I reached for the pace group sign and carried it for a little less than the mile.  Jim reminded me to slow down.  He told me at 2 miles to go he would unleash me and let me go at my own pace to finish my race hard.

Miles 7-9 I did not fuel well, I did not time a good gu/sport bean shot…and I needed one.  But, as I saw the 7 mile mark I looked at my watch I had over 45 minutes to complete my last 2.5 miles.  I KNEW I was going to reach my goal…now it was a competition with myself…by how much…?!?!

Mile 8-9 I walked for the first time.  Just for water and it was a mistake…I should have just kept jogging…it was harder to get going back into a rhythm.  Pictures between 8 and 9 also made me appreciate how excited I was to finish the race strong.  Then I saw the balloons.  Less than .5 miles to go.  TURN. IT. ON.

Lindsey, I thought, this is just one of Nabilah’s freakish 2-3 minute pushes…er, um…all outs…
I pushed to the end, ran under that clock and looked at my watch.  1 hour 54 minutes and change.  W.T.F!  I DID IT!  And there all of a sudden, Annesley was standing there hugging me.  Where she came from…I am not so sure.  But she witnessed my first exhilaration realizing I not only reached, but surpassed my goal.  I wish we had a picture of the moment.  But I certainly remember how I felt in that moment—and I don’t want to forget that feeling any time soon.

We took some pictures and walked on to the expo for a bit and after a few minutes I received my official Sprint tracking time.  1:52:59!  Not only 7 minutes faster than I had hoped for, 47 minutes faster than my 2012 time!

This morning I looked at the race pictures posted from last year and compared them to the pictures I saw from this year.  I think you will all agree when I say, it is INCREDIBLE the difference this year has made.

I am starting to be able to say “I am really proud of myself.”  I am also starting to decide on some more non-scale related goals.  Let’s work on time for standard 5k’s.  Let’s work on strength for some obstacle races.  Let’s consider looking at some LONGER??!!?? Races.

As always, I must thank Vinny (speed demon!), Nabilah (yes, maybe I should have trained), Jessica (always SO nice to just chat with you) and Annesley (such a constant source of celebration!) for being there to celebrate with me right after the race.

Who knows what will come next!

Well—this Saturday ZOO ZOOM—March 2 7am
March 9 I am pretty sure I want to go play and practice the obstacles at the Tampa Bay Mud Race course (any takers??!??)
April 6 is the Tampa Bay Mud Race
April 13 is Savage Race
May 11 is Miles for Moffitt 5 miler (before Breaker kickball playoffs...I know 99...don't worry!)

Who wants to join me?

for now,

LM