I "raced" yesterday. Yes, I put the race in quotes, because I don't want people getting the wrong idea. Racing for me isn't all that different from training, except that I put a number on the front of myself and there are a lot more other people around me doing kinda the same thing. But I don't typically run that much faster than I do in training... which is a problem, and a topic for a whole other entry.
The race was the 52nd Annual George Washington Birthday Marathon and Marathon Relay. It had originally been on my schedule to be my first full marathon -- until the universe came in and injured my foot back in December and switched my registration to a relay. First lesson: Don't question the universe! I was so disappointed when I got injured, but after running just one lap of the course yesterday, in average temps of about 28 degrees and wind gusts between 20-30 mph, I realized that my injury was just about the best thing that ever happened to me.
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| Map of the Race (yes, it was that confusing) |
Besides the weather, my biggest challenge was stomach problems. Nausea and GI pain. I have never had this problem and it really started for me during last week's training run around mile four. Did the same thing to me this run (mile four of about 7.4). Looking back I think it is likely caused by three factors: hydration (not enough pre-race hydration), too much fiber (I do love that oatmeal so) and chemical side effects (btw, this is one movie I will never see.. a "thriller" about psychiatric med side effects.. even if Jude Law and Channing Tatum are both in it; no thanks).
So the good news is my foot didn't hurt at all. The bad news is my stomach issues got a lot worse. This will be something I really need to work on over the next four months towards the big half ironman on June 23. Going to start this week by working on hydration all week and skipping the oatmeal the morning of my long training run and instead replace it with a nice green juice. Wow. Riveting. I know. Apparently I have already become one of those athletes that thinks others really want to know about my intestines and what goes in and out of them.
The hills were tough and made worse by the wind and sideways snow. But I kept trying to practice the Kenyan running mantra of thanking the universe for bringing me hills because they make me stronger, and while I had to walk a bit of a few of them, I made it and this course was definitely no joke. It made me feel better to come into transition and see the awesome Team Zers cheering (we made that transition area) and even better to hear much stronger members of the team talking about how challenging the course was.
But by far the best part of the day (well, besides the amazing french fries.. seriously.. if you love fries.. join Team Z. Coaches make the best fries, from scratch) was how wonderful it felt to be able to rely on other people. Ride to the race, ride home from the race, two great relay teammates who both ran faster than me but I never once felt inferior to them and we proudly brought in a 4:30:?? relay time. In every aspect of my life I always feel like the person who has to be responsible for everything and everyone. It was a truly incredible feeling to be so supported during every step of the way.
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| And our matching hats were brilliant -- go team Mixed Greenz |
Labels: drugs, race, race report, side effects, stomach pain, team