WNY Running Hall of Fame:
First place in age group. (1/14)
22/121 in gender.
124/292 over all.
Time: 24:49
Pace: 7:59 per mile.
I owe my mother and my adrenaline for my victory, but mostly my mom. The day of my race, just hours before heading out the door, a little package arrived in the mail. To heather, love mom - and besides love, it included a mini tube of a little something called bio freeze. AMAZING stuff. ( I honesty hate that I didn't know about this stuff sooner!) With that little miracle, I felt as if I could run forever - okay, maybe not forever, but defiantly the required 3.1 miles. Goodbye pain!
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| Im in LOVE with this photo. I feel like a ghost. |
This race was straight up insane. I don't know any other way of putting it. I decided not to toe the start line, mostly out of fear. Last thing I wanted was not to be able to work up enough speed and as a result get trampled by 300 other un injured (or so I assume) runners. So I stood a couple rows back and a little off to the side (later, as in now, I slightly regret this decision because it caused me to lose about 20 - 30 seconds worth of time. I am not a fan of the buffalo race scoring system) Anyway - waiting for gun time felt like an eternity. And ETERNITY I tell ya'. And trust me when I say, my heart was racing WAY before my legs. I always get nervous before a race, but never anything quite like this. So bad. Were talking shaky knees and everything - they say never to try anything new on race day and having the jitters that bad was definitely new. I started off just a little slower than usual, trying to use any pain as a pace gauge and when I hardly found any - I ran that race as if my freaking life depended on it. And to me, it did. When Im in a race, I'm in it - completely. People always ask me what the course was and I can never tell them. I could be running in the land of make believe and I wouldn't know the difference. Its all a blur to me, much like my self int this picture. I always find some sort of hidden "Oomph" when I know the finish line is lingering somewhere in the near future. I have no idea how I do it, but I do. I heard the woman cheering on the side lines - but I didn't dare look at her even though I so badly wanted to - when I'm going that fast, Im always so scared of tripping and busting my face. I wish I could run the entire race like that, but I almost guarantee that I would throw up. I always want to when I cross the finish. My body HATES the sudden stop, but thank god, Ive been able to keep that under control (knock on wood) thus far. That's one of my biggest fears for my half marathon; throwing up at the finish. I suppose if I had to choose between not finishing or finishing but puking - I'll take the puking. No questions asked. I wish I could apologies in advance. Maybe I'll send a letter.
When I actually crossed that finish line and realized that I finished only 45 seconds slower than my PR, I was ecstatic. Were talking so happy that I actually fought off tears of joy. I admit that it doesn't take much to make me cry, but to be brought to tears out of my own accomplishment? That never happens. I can't even properly describe how good it felt. Not only was this race up to my standards - even really injured, but having it be over was like a weight lifted off my guts. Being so relived however allowed my to actually feel how torn up the skin on my ankle was. I knew it hurt, and it was probably a little bloody - but holy crap. (again, thank you adrenaline for letting me not be too bothered by it while racing.) Im not saying I didn't feel it, somewhere near the mile and a half mark it hurt like absolute hell - but something in me had ignited and wasn't about to be stopped by a little blister. Despite my precautionary measures, it was indeed my NYC 5 mile run all over again. I hate when racing fears come true mid race. It takes a little extra effort to really stay focused. (never mind the fact that it was almost 90 degrees out..) Yes, it was the same pair of shoes as the 5 miler blister, but to their defense, I train in them ALL the time. They only act up like this sometimes, but usually that sometimes is indeed during a race. Three days later, it looks ten times worse than in the picture. I don't even know how that's possible, but it is. Trust me, I am anything but impressed by the dried pool of blood that now resides in my sneaker. yuck. Any who - some of my Front Runner running buddies were there; we've become a great support team for each other and I loved having them to be part of my accomplishments and being able to be part of theirs. They were so proud of my first place; as was the woman (proud and shocked, may I add) - the whole thing just felt incredible.
This was the award they gave out for placing in an age division - it's not the trophy or medal that I'm used to, but I do love it - a lot. The quality is amazing (even though it is adidas and Im a Nike girl!) and it has the name and date of the race on it. Definitely a unique prize. (The real prize for me was having such a good race despite my - what I thought would be - limitations. Goes to show you what a little determination, love from mom and the support of a girlfriend will do.) When they called my name not only did they barely butcher my last name, but I walked proud (and barefoot...ouch) to collect my award because I knew that I really deserved this one. My age group is difficult enough and that in itself led me to believe that I wouldn't place. Perhaps this victory felt the sweetest because it was the most unexpected. Whatever it is, I'm very grateful. Any who, I'm not really much of a bag person, but I've been filling it with any un necessary what -have- you I have laying around just because I want to wear it everywhere. At least continuous use won't result in being stinky like if it were the tshirt I was so bummed about not getting. (Side note, and in my defense, I really do have arm muscles - they are in the front of my poor little arm and they just don't have enough strength to shine through here. I've worked really hard for them and it kills me to post this picture and not have them show! Admittedly so, I have been slacking on the weight training. I can't wait to get back in the gym for that reason alone. I do have weights at home, but theres something about the gym that is much more motivating.)
When the after race festivities died down, The Woman wanted to take me out to celebrate so we wandered ( I did something that resembled something more like hobbling) around looking for a new place to have dinner. It meant the world to me that she not only took the time out of her studying to watch a run we both thought was going to be a little... slow, but she continued to take time away from her studies to spend an evening out with me/for me. She really is something. The whole night was nice, but nothing feels greater than when she is proud of me. Being out for dinner was ridiculously exciting- as if I wasn't excited enough, it was like getting a surprise date! I love dates of ay variety, but the unplanned ones are always my favorite. Any who, dinner was DELICIOUS - we went to this little greek place in the village where they offered these unique pizzas (amongst other traditional greek food, but I'm not much of the traditional type). I can't wait to go back... It was the perfect ending to a great run. And because I placed in the 1st annual, I'm already looking forward to next year and having to opportunity to "defend" my spot. Trust me, the insanity never quite ends. Life would be so boring if it did. ;) 
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