Margaritas 5K Recap - Hot Mess!

I ran my first race of the season, the Margaritas 5K, this morning.   It was a beautiful morning when I woke up; sunny and temps in the mid 50s.  I got up and went to Dunkin Donuts to get a bagel with cream cheese.  I don't really eat bagels anymore but I used the race as an excuse to eat one.  That decision would later have a serious impact on my race.

The buildup to the race was uneventful; I got all my stuff together, visited the port-a-potty a couple of times, and made my way toward the start.  I stayed pretty far back since I knew I would be doing the walk/run thing and I didn't want to be too far ahead and mess other people up as the running lane was really narrow.  By the time we started, the temp had risen to 62.

The first quarter of a mile was a struggle.  I lined up way behind where I should have been and I had to run all over the place to get ahead of people.  As we rounded the first turn I realized I needed to settle in and continue the walk/run, but my impatience had the best of me.  I started settling in just as we hit the first mile.  My pace was 12:00.  Too fast, I thought, especially considering all the chaos for the first 1/4 mile.

A minute after I hit the first mile, my body got hot with a wave of weakness and cold sweat.  It was a feeling that I knew all too well - my blood sugar was dropping.  I think a combination of the refined sugars in the bagel and the timing between consumption and the race (almost 3 hours) set me up for a fall.

As soon as I felt it I knew I was in trouble.

I am only a mile in.  This can't be happening.

I couldn't believe I was considering a DNF.  My body just wanted to stop.  Even though I knew I had hydrated enough, I was sucking so much wind that my mouth had dried out.  I was miserable.

Then I got pissed.

This is not happening.  This is a 5K.  There is no way I am stopping.  I will not be defeated by a freaking 5K!

I just let go and settled into my routine like a robot.  Run a pole, walk a pole.  I came up with a new mantra:  There are bananas at the finish line.  I just kept pushing ahead.  I took water at the halfway mark and continues to the mile 2 marker.  My pace was 12:30.  Soon, my favorite motivational song came on ("Don't Stop Me Now" by Queen) and I decided to run for as long as I could for it.  I made it to the top of the only little hill on the course and then settled back to my rhythm. 

I didn't check my watch for the 3rd mile marker, but as I pushed toward the finish I noticed another runner about 30 feet in front of me.  I don't have enough in the tank to run her down, I thought.  Screw it, yes I do.  I passed her and finished.  My watch read 37:17; my pace was 12:01.  Somehow I managed my fastest pace this year in spite of my near-bonk.

The best part about the race was that my legs felt FANTASTIC.  In fact, they felt better than they had in all my other runs.  I definitely made the right decision to rest them earlier this week.  I am excited about continuing my training and continuing to ramp up.  I can't wait until I get to 100% run!