I wanted to kick off my race season with something a bit more challenging than my usual 5K, but still doable with the nasty Iowa winter just now on it's way out. I had heard about the Hot Chocolate 5/15K series last year and added it to my bucket list so when I heard they would be in Minneapolis I knew that would be my race.
During the past 10 weeks I've faced a number of challenges including epic shoe fails, horrible weather, family illnesses and a flair up of my seizure disorder. Being a National Guard wife, Mom and student made adding my training to the mix a little difficult and I've been feeling underprepared for the race. I knew it would do a lot to build my confidence if I could fit that final long run in before the the big day, just to prove to myself that I can do the distance if nothing else.
Yesterday I set out on my last "long" run before race day. I use the term long loosely because I realize this is some runners warm up, and later this year when I am in marathon training I'm hoping it will feel like peanuts. That being said it was my longest run for 2014. The weather was sunny and in the 70s but it was w-i-n-d-y. I had uploaded new music onto my shuffle, washed my favorite clothes, eaten a very runner-esque breakfast of 1/2 a whole wheat bagel with peanut butter and a banana which I washed down with green tea.
I stretched, warmed up and headed off. I had the wind at my back, felt light on my feet and immediately made the rookie mistake of going out to hard in the first mile, which I completed just seconds under 8 minutes (fast for me, don't judge) and I payed dearly for it the rest of the run.
The majority of the trek had me heading into the wind and I had purposely added a .50 mile hill to the middle of my route. When I hit it I powered up about half way then finally had to stop and walk. Once I reached the top I turned back around and practiced my downhill running, which went well if I do say so myself. Around mile 6 I started to feel incredibly thirsty. When I say thirsty I don't mean "I suppose some water might be nice" I mean I was ready to pound on a complete stranger's door and beg them to PLEASE give me some water before I collapsed on their porch. I tried my darndest to keep pushing after that but I ended up slowing to walk until I hit mile 7 and then a painful walk/jog for my final mile home. I ended the whole ordeal with a time of 1.29.29. I want you to know it pains me to write that but I've promised to be honest with you all so there you have it, the good, the bad, and the ugly.
I've been thinking of purchasing some sort of hydration system for a few months but hadn't quite gotten to a point where I felt like I needed one. Earlier in the week I had tried running with a water bottle to the place where I like to do my speed workouts and it felt so awkward, I knew there had to be something better out there. I have rarely seen another runner in my area with a fuel belt or camelback and I didn't want to be "that girl" dragging to much gear along for all the other runners to chuckle at. I sent a message to a fellow blogger who never fails to inspire, motivate and educate, Run Salt Run ( find her here ----> http://runsaltrun.com ) and asked her opinion on hydration systems for a run of this length. Her reply was brilliant
"Think of it this way…..they have water stops at 5k's"
Mind. blown.
Why didn't I think of that!? From this day on I will never be ashamed to carry water. I will rock my right to hydrate and rock it hard.
