I was ready for a good race at CO this year, but I'm okay with how it turned out. I think in the past I would have felt like all my training was for nothing. Did I really get up at 5am repeatedly to do tempo runs in 5 degree weather, only to not even have a chance at a PR on race day? Did I seriously give up running trails all year, spend my weekends running long, miss riding bikes with friends, just to have an epic fail on race day? But no, I stayed in shape over the winter, I ran the T&H races for the first time in a couple years, and I got to put in a ton of miles with Dan and other friends. It wasn't a waste. Sunday's marathon taught me that even when things don't go as planned, I still love running- a good reminder. HUGE congrats to everyone out there who finished and to those who ran their first half and full marathons- I know there were a bunch!
Training for this race went really well. The only issues I had were sore shins for a couple weeks in March, causing me to have to hike/jog a painful trail marathon in Salida, and decrease mileage a little bit one week. By far the most successful training I've done yet! However, starting the Saturday a week before the race, I was having some weird side stitches. They didn't feel like the ones I normally get, and when I tried to do just a recovery run on Tuesday and then again on Thursday, they were there. In fact, the side stitch was there all week even when I wasn't running and I knew something wasn't right. Maybe just nerves? I didn't feel nervous... I was more concerned with getting things ready for my internship! It was in my head... right? No less than 62 seconds after the start of the race I felt the cramp in my side that had been there all week. I didn't freak out, just thought, okay. This is happening. Just run your race and maybe it will work itself out. I ran for 9 miles exactly where I wanted to be. At COM you have to run easy down the canyon or you'll either blow your quads out, or just have nothing left later. It's crazy hard- all your rested body wants to do is bust out a 10k PR right off the bat! Shortly after mile 9, the weirdness in my side totally shifted, and I knew immediately my race was over. Well, not over, but that I wasn't going to come anywhere near my goal. I was almost glad it happened so early in the race- it probably would have been tougher to deal with mentally if I had been on track up to mile 20 and then lost it in the last 10k. At the same time, knowing I had 17 more miles to go with a side stitch felt a tad daunting. This pretty much sums up my race! haha photo by Terry Grenwelge Right then and there I had a major change in mindset. No longer was I focused on re-qualifying for Boston and PRing- I was determined to have fun and enjoy my little jaunt through the canyon with three thousand other people. The weather was beautiful (albeit very hot considering we all trained through a Colorado winter) and there were so many Fort Collins friends running our home race. Terry was on his bike and I would see him from time to time the entire race. I was bummed out to have to tell him that I had a side stitch and could only run 9-10 minute miles, but he still supported me the whole way. This is my favorite photo that Terry snapped :) They ran in the low 3 hour range, yet still planned this out Photos by Terry Grenwelge Coming out of the canyon and approaching Ted's Place was super fun. I had been waiting for Kate to pass me, and she and Filip, both Team Beef members, were with me at this point. Filip and I asked people cheering if they had any beer and NOBODY did! They must have been from out of state :) I told Filip to just hang on until mile 21.5- that my friends had PBR and would give him one. The three of us ran in a Team Beef line for a while and got a lot of cheers. Leaving Ted's, there was just Bagel Hill, which had Dennis and AiT volunteers at the top, including a saint who was spraying people with water from a hose, and Baller at the bottom! It was HOT and I could feel the salt caking on my face, despite the slow pace. I wondered how Kristyn was doing and if the heat was getting to her. It wasn't! She PR'd and won her age group! Bam, nailed it :) Kristyn, Kate and I caught at different points along the course by Terry Grenwelge As we rounded the middle school, I knew I was going to see friends and couldn't wait. As I approached their aid station (read: beer station), I just yelled out "Beeeeeer!!" and Curtis scrambled to pass me one like it was Gatorade and I was an elite racer. It was ICE cold. Ahhhhhh As I ran through Lion's Park, beer in hand, I got all kinds of cheers and laughs, totally making me forget about my aching stomach. I saw Kirsten and other FCRC members and held up my beer to cheers them. As I passed I heard them behind me going "was that a beer? That was a PBR! hahaha!" Totally made my race, thanks Alex and Curtis :D After hitting the bike path, I realized I could actually probably still get under 4 hours, which surprised me. With a 5k left to go, I made that my new goal. After the Taft hill, I tried to pick it up down Vine, but my cramp stabbed me and demanded I walk/jog until the very end where I actually managed an 8:05 pace for the last .4 to the finish, coming in at 3:57:57. I was ready for a good race at CO this year, but I'm okay with how it turned out. I think in the past I would have felt like all my training was for nothing. Did I really get up at 5am repeatedly to do tempo runs in 5 degree weather, only to not even have a chance at a PR on race day? Did I seriously give up running trails all year, spend my weekends running long, miss riding bikes with friends, just to have an epic fail on race day? But no, I stayed in shape over the winter, I ran the T&H races for the first time in a couple years, and I got to put in a ton of miles with Dan and other friends. It wasn't a waste. Sunday's marathon taught me that even when things don't go as planned, I still love running- a good reminder. HUGE congrats to everyone out there who finished and to those who ran their first half and full marathons- I know there were a bunch! Post race celebrations!
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