This race is special to me. Five years ago, it was the first race I ever ran. I had just started my journey into running and getting into shape. Now I come back and run this race each year as a celebration of the positive changes I’ve made.
I got in really late Wednesday night from my trip. I discovered it was really cold, so I dug up all sorts of cool-weather gear, not really knowing what I would need in the morning. I attached my chip to my shoes, got on the internet to find out about race-day registration, set my alarm for early, and fell asleep instantly.
I was still really tired when my alarm went off. I could barely hold my eyes open. It felt really cold, so I bundled up and headed out anyway. I made it down to the park and registered for the race, and then inspiration struck. I had plenty of time, so I set the alarm clock on my phone and took a nap in my car until it was closer to the start. That helped a lot, but I miscalculated the time a little bit. The alarm went off, and I headed out for a warm-up jog. Thankfully, I warmed up enough on that that I was able to dress reasonably for the race, but I almost missed the start going back and dropping off all my extra clothes. I snuck through a crack in the gates after the Anthem and was just relieved to be pretty close to the front where I would be able to run from the beginning.
The race started, and I took off running hard. I left my watch at home and just ran by feel. I just looked around me and asked myself questions. How much do I want this? Am I willing to work harder than these people next to me? All right. Let’s go. In the first mile, I had my doubts. I knew I was operating outside of the optimal conditions for a great race. Plus the wind was pretty strong, and we were running into it. Then I snapped. All those are great excuses, but I was there to run. There was no reason I couldn’t run faster than last year’s me, and I switched those thoughts for some that would support me. I still hadn’t reached the first mile marker yet, and I passed a guy wearing a short that said: “Don’t run with your legs. Run with your heart.” I laughed. That was from the book I read between naps on my plane rides this week. So I kicked it up a notch.
I was at the first mile in about 6:10. I knew with the hills still coming up I probably wasn’t going to average under six, but that did not change how I approached it. In fact, I decided to work a little harder. I started passing a lot of people in the second mile. Mile two is pretty easy, and I gained back some time. I passed the water stops without stopping. Before I knew it, I was in mile three. This was the hilly section. I charged up the hills and passed more people. I knew I was about half way through the course, and I felt good. I knew I could just keep going like this. In that mile, we went through some residential streets, and there were a few spectators outside.
When I made the turn on to Red River, I knew I was in for some rolling hills and a long straightaway. I had been going back and forth with a guy for a while, and I finally decided that he wasn’t going to get back by me. I charged up one of the hills and never saw him again. I tried to be smooth and pick up time on the downhills as well. That’s a big improvement from last year. I am a lot more smooth and stable now, and it really helps with that. I could see from the clocks that I wasn’t going to get under 30, but it was going to be a huge PR. In mile four, I knew I was working really hard. The cold air moving through my system hurt as I breathed, and I just kept doing it.
I started telling myself all sorts of things and had a pretty good little positive soundtrack going in my head, and in the fifth mile I was just gliding along on auto-pilot. We had the one-mile walkers on the side of the road in there as we funneled together for the finish. I charged up that last monster hill on 10th and passed a few more people even there. I made the turn to the finish line and pressed on. I raced a couple guys along that, too. I ran through the finish line with authority and was surprised at how good my legs still felt.
I think I was running about as fast as I can sustain, but I could have kept going for a while longer. I obviously have the endurance and just need to work some more on my turnover. I’ve been focusing on my running form a lot these last several months, and it’s paying off. My legs feel completely fine.
I did 30:28 (6:06 pace), and that took 39 seconds off my time from last year. On a race this short, that is a huge improvement. I’m just glad I was able to get out there and do it. Next time, I’ll be under 30 for sure.