Not surprisingly, I selected the 10 mile option. I prefer to run distances of 10k+ because I just don’t like to run that fast! I know it sounds crazy to non-endurance runners, but it’s true.
Let’s start out with my goals for this race:
I wanted to run it in 1 hour & 17 minutes or less. That sounds like a random number, but I did it on the treamill last weekend while watching the Olympic Marathon trials. I wanted to make it a reality in the great out doors.
I wanted to go out fast. It’s a personality flaw when it comes to running – I’m not overly competitive with anyone but myself. I don’t enjoy going out of the start being pushed & shoved by the masses. I prefer to start at a very conservative pace and keep it steady and slowly take people out one by one as they get tired. I’ve always finished with lots less to give, and I didn’t want that to happen again!
Can I just acknowledge two rookie mistakes? I wore brand spankin’ new shoes. I’ve been having panic attacks that my old ones were hurting my left knee. I was kind of in a lose-lose place because I didn’t want to risk running 10 miles hard on shoes that were bothering me knee. I figured you can live through a little foot pain so I decided wearing new shoes was the lesser of two evils. I wore them last night to the gym for a few easy miles… and they felt awful. But I stuck with my decision.
I woke up sore this morning. Dumb, dumb, dumb. I’m not good at resting. For some reason, I had the urge to do 15 minutes of squats & lunges yesterday afternoon, and I really didn’t cut back on my mileage much this week. Oh well.
There I go. Going out with some scary fast people. I will say I did something right. The shorts & jacket combo was perfect for the gorgeous 50ish weather. I did get hot when the sun came out in the last 2 miles, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing.
Mile 1: 7:33 — Mission Go Out Fast accomplished! For the first 5 miles I stayed with a pair of 20-something girls who were clicking off 7 and a half’s like it was nada. I just pretended I was friends with them.
Mile 2 – 7:27
Mile 3 – 7:20 <—- That I should have KNOWN was a bad idea!
Mile 4 – 7:25
Mile 5 – 7:30 Yay! Halfway through! Wait, I lost my friends!! Hey guys! Where’d you go? We got 5 miles left! My 2 pacers apparently took an extended break at the turn around. As in, I never saw them again. I can’t believe they deserted me. How rude!! I really struggled to get back in the groove after that.
Mile 6 – 7:36 My slowest mile, and the beginning of the end.
Mile 7 – 7:50 I was fading fast! I started telling myself Shalene Flanagan’s mantra: COLD EXECUTION!!!!!!!
Mile 8 – 8:16 Totally fell apart. I actually walked a FEW times. I just couldn’t catch my breath!! I would walk to the count of 10, and then start running again. Being tired near the end race was totally uncharted territory for me. I almost found it confusing.
Mile 9 – 8:35 Dying. Same as mile 8. But then……
My running buddy angel, Brooke, showed up to coach me through the last 1.5 miles. I was so thankful – I almost cried!!!! I had been running by myself for a few miles, and it was just so wonderful to have someone to run with me!!
You can see her off to the left peeling off right before the finish. 
Mile 10 – 8:31
Overall time was just a hair over 1 hour, 18 minutes. I actually ran about an extra .10 miles which probably added about 30 seconds, but that’s the way racing goes!
I was just so happy to be done!
I’m just wiping away the gross saltiness and trying to breathe!
I was disappointed not to make my time goal. But I was thrilled that I was spent. I know that sounds weird, but I feel frustrated when I finish a race with a lot to give. I left it all on that course, baby!!!
But then!!! We were chilling, hanging and about to leave, but we thought we’d check the standings first.
I won first place in my age division!!!!!!!!! I was shocked. I knew that there weren’t very girls ahead of me (it was out & back), but it’s probably the biggest race I’ve ever run (over 1000 participants) so I was NOT expecting anything. And my prize was a gift certificate to Runner’s Roost. So much cooler than a medal!! Hooray!!! What an awesome surprise!!
As much as I hate to share the spotlight, my hottie husband also had a great performance today finishing the 5 mile in just barely over 40 minutes!! Good job, honey! I actually got to watch him finish because the 5 mile was at 9 and the 10 mile didn’t start till 10:15. Just in case you wanted to run both! 
Seriously! I loved watching all the finishers come in. The crowd was pretty lame so I was really the only one cheering. I need to get a cowbell before our next race!! I love watching races. I cried my eyes out when I saw a couple finish in just under 10 minute miles. I was so proud of them since it was clearly their goal and they nailed it!! It totally got me psyched up for my race.
Yeah. The new shoe situation came back to BITE me. I couldn’t WALK after the race. I limped back to the car. Funny that they didn’t bother me a bit till I stopped running. I feel a lot better after I hot showered them!!!
A few thoughts on the race itself:
- Cute long-sleeved shirt, but too big as always!!! I guess I should have asked if there were kids’ sizes, but I’ll live.
- Slipped on patches of ice in several places. That scared me.
- Nice flat course!!
- Fun atmosphere at start/finish
- Maybe I should do the Snowman Stampede next month (the next race in the Winter Distance series).
We were STARVING by the time we got cleaned up and showered. We had just enough money in this week’s food budget to grab some Qdoba for lunch. Good thing, since I wasn’t exactly up to walking around the kitchen!! It really hit the spot after a tough race.
Next time:
- I’m not gonna be in new shoes!
- I’m going to train a little more outdoors. Treadmill training is fine & dandy, but I was coughing up a lung even in the very mild January air. I wasn’t used to that outdoor feeling.
- I’m going to run negative splits. Really my preference anyways!!
- I will rest more!! Whether I like it or not.
- If it’s a 10 miler, I will beat today’s time!!!
What’s your most common racing mistake? Starting too slow. I definitely did the opposite today!!!
Would you rather…. make your goal time or place in your age division? That’s a tough one. It was really nice to place, but I don’t think I would have been disappointed if I made my goal time and didn’t place.
How do you strategize your races? Even pace? Negative splits? I’m experimenting. I want to know!
What’s your favorite distance to race? It would have been awfully nice to stop at 8 today!! Haha.
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You won your age group, SO SO proud of you!!!! And it was a huge race!
And that’s a phenomenal prize…a gift certificate to a runner store. Score!
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congratulations on your age division win! so cool! and even if your feet hurt, at least the shoes are pretty
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Congrats girl!! That’s still a ridiculous super job – especially considering the new shoes!!! And congrats to your hubs – you guys are so awesome!
ps. The shoes might have been a bad idea, but I think they totally made your outfit
Very cute running gear!
pps. do you ever run with your dog? Any tips for that?
I know, right? I couldm’t help but notice how polka dotted and cute they are. I don’t really have a lot of wisdom on dog running. I take Boyd out sometimes, but he’s a basket case. He was bachelor with my husband for several years before we were married and learned a LOT of bad habits. Hahaha. I actually won’t take him out if it’s icy because the weather is bad. I want a Vizsla for a good running (and life) buddy!
That’s awesome!! I’m on my iPad right now and for some reason can’t see the screen where I’m typing, so my apologies for the mistakes that my comment is bound to have!!
Thank you!!
CONGRAT! (and cute shoes!)
thanks!
Congratulations- so awesome that you won your division!!! And you even did it in new shoes- THAT is something to brag about.
But, yes. I’m glad you learned your lesson!
Congrats on winning your age division, that’s awesome! Congrats to your husband too. That’s so fun that you guys are able to run races together (well, semi-together!)
I tend to start out slow because I’m afraid I’ll be too tired and unable to finish. I realllllly need to get over that!
GREAT JOB! I love running long distances because then I can run slower and still feel productive
Hey hey, way to go! I think that is a fantastic time! You should be proud!
Congrats on the race and win!! My goal for my next marathon is to run negative splits. I am usually pretty steady (last race, I only dropped off by 8 seconds per mile on pace for the last 6 miles) but I think it would feel great to know that you picked it up… Ouch about the shoes, I hate getting new shoes! Hope your feet are feeling better!
Congrats on your awesome run!! That’s so exciting!
Congrats on the race that is awesome!!! I always love checking the standings at the end becuase it’s so crazy to me that I could get 70 out of 400 women or something like that. Really pushes you for future races
Congratulations on the race and the win
I read in a fitness magazine that it takes a month to break in new shoes!
I prefer longer distances too. I have done ton of running races but as a swimmer Id always swim the longer races.
Great race!! And a lovely recap too… I felt I was there!
Those are some good splits.. you should be pleased because you wanted to go out hard and you did 
My fave race is 21km and second favourite is 10k. I agree the 5km is too short and speedy for liking! I take awhile to get into the groove
YAY for Corrie Anne!!!!!!!! Congrats, girlie! I am so impressed! You were on FIRE!!! Also, I am totally guilty of competing with myself–I am a nut! I put soooo much pressure on myself–totally my own worst enemy!
Thanks!! It was really exciting. The self-discipline helps sometimes, but I know I totally overdo it too in competing with myself!
Congrats on winning (in your division)…if no one is, well I’m proud of you.
I need to get back to the gym and start exercising again. I was doing well up until October and then lost motivation. You’ve inspired me to get out the kitchen (for a little) and get on a treadmill!
Thank you!!! Do it!! Moving feels so good!! You won’t regret it!
So funny. I get what your saying about the longer races versus shorter races. I ran a half marathon excited for more, and basically curled in a ball crying “NO MORE” during a 5k. A 5k is a three mile sprint. No thanks.
Sorry about the new shoes! I don’t think I’ve ever worn a pair of running shoes that I had to “break in,” thank freakin’ God because I’d quit. Congrats!
Congratulations on winning your age division for the race – that is so awesome! I understand about not meeting your goal time, but I think under ideal conditions (i.e. better shoe situation, not running extra, and not waking up sore the morning of the race) you’ll get to your goal time!
Congrats!
That’s amazing!!! Congratulations, Speedy Gonzales!
Congrats on the race! I love running longer distance to be at a slower pace too hah! My mistake that I always make is forgetting to tuck in my shoe laces so half way through I always have to re-tie them lol
Wow awesome job! I could have totally used a gift certificate to Runners Roost last weekend when I bought new shoes lol.
Great job! Girl, you are fast!!!!
I actually like longer distances too! When training for my half, I always enjoyed the longer runs better than the short ones for some reason. Who knows!!
You did awesome! I ran the same race today and while I was a ways behind you I didn’t notice any wind until I hit mile 8, then it started gusting! Either way, you did great pushing thru, especially with 10 second walks. I find it so difficult to get back to running!
Regardless of your finish, the weather was amazing! Are you running the Snowman Stampede?!
Thanks!! I haven’t decided about the Snowman Stampede, but I heard them announce a Valetine’s 5k and I thought that might be fun. Do you have any fun races planned coming up? We should run together sometime. I need more outdoor running buddies!
I have races penciled in but I haven’t actually paid for any of them – except my marathon in May. And the Platte River Half in April. For now I’m going the slacker route and waiting until the last minute.
I’d definitely be up for running together…I’ve always been a solo running but just discovered the running group at the Littleton Boulder Running Co and so far I like running buddies! Although I think I’ll need to seriously work on my speed work if I run with you…
great job !
Excellent time
chers
That is SOOO awesome Corrie Anne!! FANTASTIC job, you may have not beat your time (and only 1 minute!) but I would say first in your age division is pretty dang awesome!
SUPER JOB! What a great surprise to learn that you got first for you age division!
Yay! You accomplished so much today and so did the hubby! Congrats to the both of you!
Thank you! It was really exciting!