3.09.2012

Bidwell Classic Race Recap

Race #3 of the 12 in 2012 Running Challenge started off good. It was a little chilly, maybe around 40 degrees, but I knew that it wouldn't last for long. After about 1000 feet, we ran into the 5k racers who had already finished and I slowed down a little to see if I could see my Dad. This got me a "get out of the way" from one guy and a shove and a fake "excuse me" from another. I am not saying I didn't deserve a few complaints, but in case you want to seek revenge, his number was 197.


After that, I probably spent the next mile going over in my head what I should have said  back to him. Don't you hate that, when you don't say anything but then you keep thinking you should have? I mean, he didn't need to shove me! He kind of looked like an ugly Will Farrell. He was somewhere around 6'4" and 10 years older than me. I guess it makes him feel better to shove around people half his size. And way better looking. Sorry. It's all out of my system now.

Luckily his rudeness made me ignore the first mile, but for the entire second mile, I was thinking that maybe I should have just signed up for the 5k. I was still not feeling 100% and I was thinking that maybe I made the wrong decision when I decided to run the Half. But then I looked down at my Garmin. My first two miles had been run at 7:43 and 7:53. NO wonder I felt tired; this was faster than I normally ran (except for this race, which was "fast and flat"). So at this point, I told myself a couple of things: 1) stop being a baby (yes, I do this) and just keep running, and 2) I was going to try to keep it under 8 minute miles. Even though I was still a little sick, I thought that under 8 was a realistic goal.

So I powered on. The rest of the race went pretty well, especially when I got pleasantly surprised by the water distributors on the course at mile 5 and 11. Yummy. Everything went well until the last few miles, when I started to feel tired again. Usually during a half, I don't take any fuel. But this time I had about a quarter of a packet of disgustingness Gu just to try to stay awake. I was pretty fatigued. I haven't felt like that since my first half marathon, which was hot and my feet hurt and I was so ready to be done. Well, for this one, I was kind of ready to be done as well.


I crossed the finish line with a chip time of 1:44:02 (7:56/mi). Here is my Garmin readout. Don't mind the extra time; I always, ALWAYS forget to stop it right away. This time I was lucky to catch it pretty fast. As far as the extra mileage goes, I don't remember walking very far at first, so maybe the course was a tad long.


It's no PR (my PR is 1:42:40), but I am happy that I was even well enough to run this race, and even more happy that I kept it under an 8 minute mile. So that's a win in my book. 

To see some of the other races I've done, go to my Races & Places page.  There, you can also see suggestions of where to run in several US cities (International page still in discovery stages). Also, pop over to Jill's blog, where she hosts Fitness Friday each week! She is also the mastermind behind the 12 in 2012 Challenge! 

Did you race last weekend? When someone is rude to you, do you think of quick comebacks or do you think of a bunch of witty sayings only when it's too late?

11 comments:

  1. I'd say that was still a pretty good race for not feeling the best! I'm with you on thinking of things you wish you would've said to someone. I do that all the time. I'm really tough in my head but what actually happens is usually nothing!

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  2. Sweet! Any day you can keep a half under an 8:00 pace it's a good day to be out there. Great job!

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  3. awesome job on the race -especially for not feeling 100%! I completely have fake fights in my head after someone says/does something rude. I rarely think of the right thing in the moment, but in my head I am super quick and clever with comebacks!

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  4. Great job on the half especially considering you weren't feeling 100%. I do that all the time and want to go back and say things but it is always too late, why don't we come up with the good responses right away?!

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  5. Another strong race! That's a great time, especially for feeling off. Congrats on getting #3 done!

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  6. That's a great time! I do the same thing when someone makes me mad and I don't say anything. I thought about one lady the entire drive home the other day. I should have just put my truck in park, hopped out, and asked what her problem was. She tried to walk right out in front of me to cross the street and by the time I saw her crossing I couldn't stop so she had to stop. USE A CROSSWALK!!! I feel much better now!

    Hope you have a great weekend!

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  7. Great job!! Amazing time! What a jerk. Seriously a man running into a lady? What's up with that? Unfortunately, I never think of a good comeback until way later.

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  8. Nice work - especially since you were not feeling 100%!! I think you should be really proud of yourself. I can not imagine holding a sub-8 min pace for 13.1 miles! Well done you!

    I do not think of 'zingers' when I encounter rudeness. I always think of them later when it's too late. What a jerk!

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  9. Wow...awesome pace! You're doing awesome with the 12 in 2012 :)

    Sadly I'm not quick with the comebacks.

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  10. I'm not quick with the comebacks either and it drives me nuts when later I think of the perfect thing to say! Great job on your race! You are super speedy!! :)

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  11. Great race! I'm terrible on comebacks, too. I always think of something good weeks later.

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