So yesterday I completed my 3rd 10K race. It was in Grimbsy, Ontario which is close to Niagara Falls and about 1-1.5 hours away from our home. So not a bad drive to get to a race and traffic was not terrible which I was surprised in since it was rush hour. I was picking up my race kit yesterday before the race and I wanted to get there a bit earlier to get parking at the centre since they were closing the parking early for the 1K that ran at 6:30pm. We got there and I was really disappointed in the expo, well it really was no expo, yes there were a few vendors but so non significant. Then you had to get your bib at one table, your chip at another, your bag at another and then your t-shirt at the last one. Really? Could they not have put some of those together! Anyways, I was then disappointed in the actually race kit.....take a look:
Yup that was it. It was a reusable bag, a magazine and yes there was also a yard waste paper bag that is not shown in the picture. Where was my Tim Hortons gift certificate? And the magazine is actually a magazine about triathlon......why would I want that! This was a 1K, a 5K and a 10K race. I am sure most people there are not interested in triathlons. So yes this was very disappointing!
Just before race time I headed to the startline and there were no time corrals so I got close to the front. DH got a picture of the startline:
And here I am waiting! (I am the one in all black smiling for the piture)
The race started on time which I always appreciate.....I hate waiting!
I started great....my pace was 7:10.....WOOHOO and I felt wonderful! I got to 5K and was feeling amazing. They had the time displayed at the 5K mark which I really appreciated and my time was at 24 minutes......woohoo I could see my sub 50! At about 5.5K I cramped......huge painful cramp on my side. It was so painful I wasn't thinking clearly. I felt frazzled. WHAT DO I DO? Do I keep running in agonizing pain and hope it subsides? Or do I stop running and walk to see if it helps? But if I stop will I be able to start again? I had no idea what to do. So my pace right then dropped to about 9:00.....I was devastated! I kept running in the hopes that the pain would disappear. It finally got better at about the 8.5K mark but the damage was done. I saw my sub 50 flash before my eyes and disappear. When I hit 9K at about 47 minutes I knew that if I had anything left, this was the time to use it. I hammered it so hard, I gave it all I had and I finished at a time of:
50:29
Not a sub 50 but it its a PR......WOOHOO......I will take that, especially after a terrible mid race. Here I am after just crossing the finish line:
Here is part of my cheering team. And she is holding beautiful orchids that my mom brought me. I have a great support team in my daughter, my husband and my parents! Thanks guys!
Okay so here are the stats:
Official time - 50:29
Chip time - 50:29
Official rank (out of 632 runners) - 243rd
Gender rank (out of 302) - 57th
Category Rank (out of 54) - 8th
So not bad. Alot of good runners in this race and it was a nice small race. Even though the non-existing expo and disappointing race kit, it was a nice small race, it was well run, alot of police and firemen present (oh yes that is always good), the course was good (3 hills but I did them well and its great for the legs....LOL), so overall it was a good race and I am overall happy! Who isn't happy when they PR!
Will I run this race again......definately!
But now I have to ask.......when you cramp up what do you do? Do you keep running, do you stop, I need to know!
Great job! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteToo bad about the cramping, sounds like you could have smashed 50 minutes... but hey, a PR is a PR and now you'll have something to look forward to next time you race...
ReplyDeleteI'm not too familiar with cramping since it's not something that normally happens to me (knock on wood), but I do remember hearing a breathing trick that's supposed to help... basically you switch legs that you're breathing out on, so if your exhaling when your left leg is striking when the cramp hits you consciously make an effort to exhale when your right leg strikes instead... Hopefully this was an isolated issue!
Way to go girl!! That's fantastic. Thankfully, I've never started cramping during a race so I don't know what to tell you to be honest. But, I do sometimes cramp during regular runs if I'm not fully hydrated and EZEthan's advice is exactly what I've heard and do. You exhale really hard on that side as well. It seems to help. I also pace down just a bit.
ReplyDeleteAwesome job. PR PR PR! So exciting. Anytime I get side cramps when I'm running I slow down a little and take deep breaths. The breaths usually hurt like heck, but they work the cramp out.
ReplyDeleteWas it a side stitch? Here's what I have to offer thanks to some one else for the info. If you get a stitch on your right side (which is more common), slow down for 30 seconds or so and exhale forcefully each time your left foot hits the ground. IF the stitch is on the left, exhale hard when your right foot lands. Continue until the pain recedes. IF this doesn't help, try slow, deep "belly breathing" (your abdomen should go in and out with each breath). Or run with your hands on top of your head and your elbows back while you breathe deeply from your belly. Another remedy is to take your fist and dig it under your rib cage. Push the fist in with your other arm and bend your torso over almost to 90 degrees. Run like this for 10 steps. This stretches the diaphragm (most stitches are caused by a spasm of the diaphragm). If none of these techniques work, stop and walk until the pain subsides. And here's a no-brainer. To prevent stitches caused by food in the stomach, don't eat before you run. Oh yeah, I got this from Runners World Complete book of Running. If it doesn't help, sori. Thought I would give it a wack. Congrats on your 50.29 time. I am very proud of you and for having a PB. Its awesome having the support and all. You freaking rock. I might be where you are at after I lose another 25 pounds. lol. I am sure you can run circles around me now. lol. Take care. Cheers. Yeah, btw, they should have had all that stuff at one freaking table.
ReplyDeleteHey, I almost ended up joining you on this one. I would have definitely been part of your finish line cheering squad (I would only have run the 5K).
ReplyDeleteIt is a tough course: gently (ha!) rolling hills. Next year, you'll know what to expect.
Cramps can be tricky. When my calf tightened up in November, I walked, tried to run and couldn't; I ended up walking the last two K. I think you have to do what feels right. If it hurts, stop what you're doing. Side cramps are different; usually, it's just gas from sucking in too much air so you can get rid of it by eliminating the gas (either exaggerate your exhaling or you know).
Good job on the time.