10K Lighthouse Run and Done!

Gratuity: Shared Efforts

Goal work:  The difference between try and triumph is a  little umph - Author Unknown


I just ran my first 10K at a 12:25 pace.   I wanted to hold a 12:30 pace and dreamed of a 11:30 pace.   Actually I was quite unsatisfied during the run.  I kept glancing at my Garmin and seeing horrible numbers the last half of the race,  but I have to admit I was satisfied with the run when I saw the final number and realized how far I've come since a few years ago.

The day started with the threat of a thunderstorm.  A few droplets graced our shoulders as we ran for cover while waiting for the race to start.    Once the race got started not a droplet appeared but a foreboding hill signaled the start of the race.  We spent the whole morning worrying about it but lucked out when we found the race actually started half way up the hill.    Our nerves started to dissipate as wee walked with relief to the starting line half way up the hill.  I don't remember what the catalyst was to start running;  I just remembered we all started running.    I was walking a few steps ahead of my sisters but very quickly I saw a blur of Linda and Deb go by.  The back of their sneakers is all that remained in my head.  They were going FAST.   I think  at a pace of 7:00 that first mile.    I held on a while wondering were Ginny was.  Soon I saw her moving at a sustainable but much faster pace as she past me by.    That would be the last of my sisters until they greeted me at the finish line.

I passed the first mile still surrounded by a large group of runners.    At the first mile a pace tracker yelled out a 10 something pace.   That made me happy.  Then I saw my stepfather Jon.   I picked it up, gave him a smile and a wave.    At the end of the second mile,  the mass group started to distance themselves from me.    At the third mile, folks started to pass me one at a time.     I checked the 5K distance and found I was 10 seconds off my 5K PR.  Bummer mixed with the thought that at least I was not too far behind.

I did my usual passing of a few walkers,  decided to try some water as practice for my longer runs and then noticed my Garmin time was hitting 13:30 minute pace.   I yelled at myself to go faster but the legs would not listen.  I worried a bit about my knee.   A lady and her daughter passed me and they really were not going fast.   I told myself to pretend the lady was Diane and we were out for a practice run.   My body did not listen.  They passed me and the distance between them and me grew longer.   They stopped to drink water and I caught up and passed them.  They then started running and passed me.  This happened a few times over the span of the last few miles.

The last quarter mile I picked it up, was cheered on by Deb and Linda, and sprinted to the finish yelling the entire way.  Stupid me forgot to stop my Garmin so I was not sure of the exact time.   The clock said 1:17:00 but my sister reminder me that this was a chip calculated start to finish.   I ran a 1:16:43 and came in 192 out of 219 runners (I don't know why the clock in the picture says 1:16:00)

I must admit I was not out of breath or ready to puke as I feel when I finish the 5K.  I felt good and a bit dumbfounded that my body had refused to run faster.   All of my sisters felt it had been a tough race.  Maybe it was the wind, or maybe we put a bit of competitive pressure on ourselves and started off too fast.

My mom beamed with pride as she articulate her wonderment that she spawned such athletes.  That made me smile.


We all had a great time and will remember Christoper McDougall's saying.

We run not to compete with each other but to be with each other!

Fast Tip #5 - Find faster friends and run with them

Gratuity: My runbuds (physically and mentally)

Goals:   Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition. Awards become corroded, friends gather no dust. - Jesse Owens

I never thought that running with others would help me.    I always felt the best way for me to push myself was to dig deep down, tune out the world and push on.  I sort of have the independent solo wolf mentality.  I guess I was afraid I would get intimidated or sidetracked running with others.   I was surprised last year that I did enjoy the energy of the other runners at the weekly track runs.   I was still running alone but was surrounded by other runners and their energy helped push me through the workouts.

I was also surprised to find that when family cheered me on and ran with me at the final stretch of the race that it really did help speed me up.

So a few weeks ago I decided to run with a friend (thanks Diane) whose running pace is a slight bit faster than mine.  I was thankful that she was willing to do a slow (for her) run with me.   I ended up doing a PR and it was done in an extremely easy manner.   I really think that if I continue to run with her I will see a major improvement and I am in the process of trying to talk her into pacing me  to an official PR at my next 5K.

I am not sure why it works.  When I run by myself and request my legs to move faster they often disobey, but when running with others it seems they just copy the faster person in front of me and seem to keep up if the pace is just slightly faster than my normal run.    I also think enjoyable conversation helps give me the psycological boost to keep up.

This experience has inspired me to see if I can reach out to others to run with or do some weekend group runs with members of the running club.