Glutard

Even as recently as last year a race morning like the one I am about to describe would have sent me over the edge with runner’s anxiety. I still was way too upset over what happened yesterday but by the time I made it back to queens and showered I was ok with everything that was my race morning. 

5:45 am: My alarm went off and I checked the NYRR website to make sure the race was still on. It was which meant I really had to get out of bed. I found some long pants and packed a bagged.My stomach hurt with pre race runner nerves but I pressed on any way. 

6:20 am: I am waiting for the train quite smug with myself that I was out of the house a whole 10 minutes before I needed to be. Train comes- and were are off. I put on my music and settle into a seat.

6:45 am: Still ahead of the plan. Still happy. Time to change trains- I am suppose to get on the 4 train but I see other runners head to the 6 train so I follow.

6:55 am: Train stopped and held due to a passenger injury on another train. All announcements say- take alternate route, we are going to be holding for an unknown amount of time. I stop my music and start to make eye contact with the other runners.

7:15: Train starts to move again but is only stopping certain places. 

7:20: 4 runners get off at a different stop. 

7:25: I make friends with a runner who said she had been following me this whole time and was also suppose to be on the 4 train. 

7:30: We get off to get the 4 train to get the 3 train. 

7:51: We make it to prospect park and have to make the MILE walk to the start of the race. 

8:00: The race starts and we are still walking. At this point I should have ran and used that as my warm up but I stayed with my new friend because I was trying to keep my cool even though part of me was really upset that I had no time to warm up/stretch and the other things we runners do. 

8:08: After throwing down my bag, changing really fast, finding the lady john, and hoping in the very last corral I was off and running. 

I finished the 4 mile race in 30:55 which all things considered is a wonderful time. I have been battling shin splits from usng the wrong shoes, having been glutened and that thing that happens to women so I knew going into yesterday that between my legs and the 26 mile per hour winds I wanted to use it as a workout. 

I felt so rushed and out of my running zone that I really did not enjoy this race- I just wanted to get it over with. Having run track in high school and college, I have developed rituals that certainly put myself at ease on races days. Sometimes how passionate I feel about racing really gets in my way of enjoying running so today was good for me because in the end everything was fine. So fine in fact that I placed 43rd for my age and as my mom pointed out not matter what happened yesterday I made a friend and that is more valuable than the mess that was my pre race morning. 

Did anyone else race yesterday? Next week I have a 5k, then my favorite race the National Half in DC on March 17th!