Celebrating after the race!

I heard about the Mountain to Fountain 15K last minute and literally signed up for it just three hours before registration closed. My o my, am I glad that I did. Want to know why?

Well, step into my stinky, beat up running shoes for a couple minutes and let me walk you through this experience one mile at a time.

But first, picture this…

I’m anxiously pacing back and forth, trying to stay warm, waiting for the race to start. A lady that I had met earlier asked me what my race pace was, but I thought she asked me what by bib number was? It went like this:

Me : 731

Lady: WOW, that is fast!

Me: Wait, what did you say? Didn’t you ask me what my bib number was?

Lady: No, I wanted to know what your average pace goal for the race was?

Me: Ohhhh, I thought you asked me what my bib number was. Oh geez, ya a 7.31 pace WOULD be fast, but that’s not my pace…I’ve never held that pace for longer than 4 miles. I’d be THRILLED to stay around an 8 minute average.

We end our conversation and I head toward the port-a -potties one last time thinking to myself. ‘Wow, a 7.31 pace would be so awesome. I wish I could pull that off. And man, how weird would that be to run a 7.31 average AND that be my bib number? uh.’

SO, here I am…at the starting line… I turn on my Garmin, press play on my shuffle, tighten my shoe laces, re-tie my pony tail (AGAIN), the whistle blows, and the race begins.

Mile 1-2 : Mentally I was in the worst shape I have EVER been in during a run. So much negativity clouded my mind. I told myself I was slow and a horrible runner. I compared my body to everyone’s around me. I was scared of falling and getting injured. I wanted to QUIT, and I had barely begun. THANK GOD, I had the Garmin and saw that I was averaging a 7:25 minute mile. (which is fast for me) This alone, kept me moving… and I began to encourage myself to not give up and to dig deeper.

Mile 2-4: Entering mile 2, one of my favorite workout songs came on my shuffle so I perked up a bit and ran a little faster. By the time mile 3 had come around my body was totally in its groove. I found my stride and settled into a pace of a 7:10min/mile. BUT, it was so bizzare because mentally I was still getting pretty beat up. It’s like my body was performing awesome, but my brain didn’t want to match what my body was doing. This is VERY RARE in running. Typically, if you feel defeated in your head, then it will translate in your body and manifest. Yet, here I was running the best I have ever ran despite my bad attitude.

Mile 5-7: UGLY HILLS! I have never trained on hills, and let me tell you why, they HURT SO BAD! (I better start! ) My glutes were screaming and my lungs were going crazy, grappling for relief. I just kept plowing on and upward… I looked down at my watch to see my pace …

7:45 min/mile. WHAT???? That is FAST for uphill,especially because it FELT so slow.

And THEN, the Garmin’s low battery sign pops up and distorts some of the numbers on the screen. I think, ‘ Shoot! How will I track the rest of my run? Oh my gosh, what if it’s been inaccurate the whole time? What if it’s been reading my pace wrong because the battery is dying? ‘

Panic, for a moment, sets in… then logic…

I have no control of this. Just run. Run. Don’t stop. Press on. Push. Dig. Pray. Will the way.

Miles 7-9 : Would you believe that I was STILL not enjoying myself? Normally when I run I get a second and third wind and enjoy myself, at least a little. Not this race! I’d venture to say that I was straight up depressed. Oh, and remember, I have no idea how fast I am going anymore because I do not trust the dying Garmin on my wrist. Thank God the hills were over with and I was nearing the end or I may have just sat down and cried. (drama-rama, i know)

Miles 9-15K : Closing in on the last mile, I think about how the crowd will grow and how I’ll be able to run faster as they cheer everyone on toward the finish line. I start to anticipate a surge of energy. Well, in short, it never came and I start to think that I will NEVER RACE AGAIN because these feelings and this pain are just too miserable. I’m literally yards from the end, and onlookers are smiling and clapping as I pass and I just want them to disappear. ‘Stop looking at me’, I thought, ‘ Can’t you see I am suffering? I’m not having fun!’

…and BOOM, it’s over!

Immense joy instantly replaces the dark cloud that was hovering over my spirit, because it was DONE. The pain faded, and that sweet, addictive runners high swept over me. And in a blink of an eye, I want to do it all again. And in my head I am ALREADY thinking of the next race I can do. Running has never evoked so much raw, beautiful emotion out of me.

Michael(my husband) and my mom eagerly greeted and congratulated me. We took pictures, walked around, and I attempted to tell them of my “awful” , but amazing experience. We eventually made our way over to the score board. I honestly, had no idea what I was about to see.

And there it was! Can you guess my average pace? Remember my bib number? That’s right 731 for both !

Sometimes incredible things happen in the midst of pain and doubt. As long as you don’t give up… keep on doing what you know you are supposed to, despite how you “feel.” Don’t give up.

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