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To make a long story short - I DID IT! I finished the 5 mile St. Malachi under an hour AND was treated to my entire delicious cupcake because of it. Evil Andy foiled again! ;-) It was a great day :)
I will admit I almost backed out at the last moment. Andy and I were running late after dropping off the kids at an early morning soccer game and meeting up with my mom. By time we got near the race, a lot of roads were closed because the 2 mile run had already started. We couldn't get to the major parking lots, and were stuck looking for on street parking. The weather was horrible at this point - 33 degrees and icy rain pelting the windshield. Andy turned to me and half-jokingly said, "It's warm in here. We have cupcakes and you already have your race shirt. No one needs to know."
I swear that man is the bad angel on my shoulder sometimes!
But then he's also my good angel, too. I gave him the old side-eye, and he knew I meant business. I would be running this race no matter what! Andy then treated me to the most ridiculous rendition of Alicia Keyes' "Girl on Fire" while we looked for parking. I love this man.
With 15 minutes to start, I jumped out of the car, and headed to the start line. But first I had use the bathroom. The line for the indoor bathroom was insane.
This is the part of the story where I become a folk hero! Just as I was nearing an open stall, a woman yells out, "All the toilet paper is gone! All of it! In the entire bathroom!" (she seemed a little freaked). I remembered that I had about half a box of kleenex shoved up my sleeves because I was so worried about my nose running during the race so I shouted back, "I have tissues! Lots and lots of tissues" And then I became a human kleenex dispenser with women pulling tissues out of my sleeves and thanking me. Like these women LOVED me, and couldn't thank me enough. It was all very touching, and I received many warm wishes for a good race, and was even told I was the nicest person EVER. Women really value toilet paper.
By some miracle, I made it out to the start with a minute to spare, and by a greater miracle Andy found me in the crowd of thousands getting ready to run. He gave me a last minute kiss, hug and threat against my cupcake and off I went.
This was my first time wearing my new GPS watch for a race, and I can't stress how much I loved it and how motivating I found it to be. The field was so crowded that I didn't even get to the starting line until 90+ seconds after the gun. I was able hit start on my watch at the exact moment I crossed the start, and get an accurate pace for myself when I crossed the mile markers rather than just hearing the clock times shouted out. I loved it!
After a quick turn down W. 25th street, we turned again to cross the Detroit Superior bridge heading towards downtown Cleveland, and that's where it really became obvious that the conditions sucked. Bridges are the pits for running as far as I'm concerned - they seem harmless enough, but that slow, steady incline is killer. And the wind is pretty bad too, especially on a day like this one. The road was really slick, and there were many pot holes and big puddles. I was sliding everywhere, and my feet were soaked almost immediately and I was regretting this whole thing. I was really hoping Andy wasn't taking my under 60 minute promise too seriously because I was pretty sure I would be lucky to just walk this entire race. And that's when I saw it.
The crowd of runners thinned a bit and I found myself running behind a man whose shirt read "In Loving Memory of Katie Rees. Fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith." I started crying. To an embarrassing degree; thank goodness it was raining. I promised myself right there I wasn't letting this man, this shirt, this memorial, these phrases out of my sight. I had no idea how fast he was going to run - and prayed it wouldn't be too fast - but I knew I was staying with him for the duration.
And I did....down W. 3rd, all the way around Cleveland Browns Stadium, past the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, around Voinovich Park, down to Burke Lake Front Airport, and back again, I stayed behind him repeating in my head, "Fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith."
I tried to focus on the stories going on around me. There are so many stories you see on a race day. Some people make their stories perfectly clear like the man in front of me running in Katie's honor. Other stories you can only guess at, or maybe overhear, or kind of make up in your head.
When I ran the Cleveland Half-Marathon last year, I ran several miles with a young, attractive, fit looking couple. The girl was injured, and really struggling. Every so often, they would stop, stretch, walk, then run again. He was always encouraging her, and was incredibly supportive. At mile 11, he put her on his back and ran over a mile that way in 85 degree heat. That made me cry, too, and I thought to myself - Don't let this guy go! Ever! He's a keeper! This shit is more romantic than The Notebook!
During the St. Malachi Run, I saw two older women running together in green tutus, laughing all the way. race. I saw two young men running together who gave a big ole "screw this" on the final pass back over the bridge, and instead happily called it quits, high-fived and ran down a big hill to the designated after-party bar in the Flats. Tee hee. I saw a father and his little girl - no more than 7 years old - running together. She was getting tired, so as I ran passed I said, "You are impressive, young lady! You are totally going to beat me!". She smiled and said, "Yes, I am!" and took off like a shot. Her Dad seemed really happy that she got a little extra boost. I saw another Dad with a young teen daughter - she was slowing down, and he was running backwards trying to encourage her. She was having none of it, as a 13 year old might, and told him, "OMG, Dad! You are like the worst EVER!" and "No. Just No. You are too enthusiastic." It was cracking me up and reminded me of some conversations I've had at home with my own teenager. I saw another runner take a horrible tumble early in the race into a big, freezing puddle. He was soaked. Another runner who didn't seem to know him ran up, made sure he was OK, and gave him the pair of gloves off his own hands so that the soaked runner would at least have warm hands.
This is why I love runners and racing. I am a generally positive person, and negative people baffle and exhaust me. I can think of no other situation I can be in where there are just thousands of people gathered together, helping each other, and putting out such good positive energy. It's indescribable, and just so good for the soul.
Despite the conditions, my race was going very well. I was stunned when I hit the 3 mile mark at 32 minutes. This meant I was actually getting my first sub-33 minute mile 5K (3.1miles) even though it wouldn't technically count as such since it was a longer race.
As I came up on mile 4 and the big hill on West 3rd next to the Stadium, I started to lose steam, and had to stop and walk for about 20 seconds. And *just* as I started to panic and worried about falling behind the man in the inspirational shirt, I noticed the song I was listening to on my iPod - Mumford and Sons "After the Storm":
And you better believe I enjoyed that WHOLE cupcake!! Here is the embarrassing photographic evidence to prove it..
My next race is on Sunday, April 27 - The Cleveland 10 Miler. This is a big one for me! Every year this race has the most awesome shirts. They always say "Run Like A God" on the back, which is the theme of this Hermes' sponsored race. I. Want. That. Shirt. I've wanted one since I've started running, and I am so excited to earn it next month!
I swear that man is the bad angel on my shoulder sometimes!
But then he's also my good angel, too. I gave him the old side-eye, and he knew I meant business. I would be running this race no matter what! Andy then treated me to the most ridiculous rendition of Alicia Keyes' "Girl on Fire" while we looked for parking. I love this man.
With 15 minutes to start, I jumped out of the car, and headed to the start line. But first I had use the bathroom. The line for the indoor bathroom was insane.
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| Right before the start of the race |
By some miracle, I made it out to the start with a minute to spare, and by a greater miracle Andy found me in the crowd of thousands getting ready to run. He gave me a last minute kiss, hug and threat against my cupcake and off I went.
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| So many people running on such a yucky day! Runners are tough! |
After a quick turn down W. 25th street, we turned again to cross the Detroit Superior bridge heading towards downtown Cleveland, and that's where it really became obvious that the conditions sucked. Bridges are the pits for running as far as I'm concerned - they seem harmless enough, but that slow, steady incline is killer. And the wind is pretty bad too, especially on a day like this one. The road was really slick, and there were many pot holes and big puddles. I was sliding everywhere, and my feet were soaked almost immediately and I was regretting this whole thing. I was really hoping Andy wasn't taking my under 60 minute promise too seriously because I was pretty sure I would be lucky to just walk this entire race. And that's when I saw it.
The crowd of runners thinned a bit and I found myself running behind a man whose shirt read "In Loving Memory of Katie Rees. Fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith." I started crying. To an embarrassing degree; thank goodness it was raining. I promised myself right there I wasn't letting this man, this shirt, this memorial, these phrases out of my sight. I had no idea how fast he was going to run - and prayed it wouldn't be too fast - but I knew I was staying with him for the duration.
And I did....down W. 3rd, all the way around Cleveland Browns Stadium, past the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, around Voinovich Park, down to Burke Lake Front Airport, and back again, I stayed behind him repeating in my head, "Fight the good fight. Finish the race. Keep the faith."
I tried to focus on the stories going on around me. There are so many stories you see on a race day. Some people make their stories perfectly clear like the man in front of me running in Katie's honor. Other stories you can only guess at, or maybe overhear, or kind of make up in your head.
When I ran the Cleveland Half-Marathon last year, I ran several miles with a young, attractive, fit looking couple. The girl was injured, and really struggling. Every so often, they would stop, stretch, walk, then run again. He was always encouraging her, and was incredibly supportive. At mile 11, he put her on his back and ran over a mile that way in 85 degree heat. That made me cry, too, and I thought to myself - Don't let this guy go! Ever! He's a keeper! This shit is more romantic than The Notebook!
During the St. Malachi Run, I saw two older women running together in green tutus, laughing all the way. race. I saw two young men running together who gave a big ole "screw this" on the final pass back over the bridge, and instead happily called it quits, high-fived and ran down a big hill to the designated after-party bar in the Flats. Tee hee. I saw a father and his little girl - no more than 7 years old - running together. She was getting tired, so as I ran passed I said, "You are impressive, young lady! You are totally going to beat me!". She smiled and said, "Yes, I am!" and took off like a shot. Her Dad seemed really happy that she got a little extra boost. I saw another Dad with a young teen daughter - she was slowing down, and he was running backwards trying to encourage her. She was having none of it, as a 13 year old might, and told him, "OMG, Dad! You are like the worst EVER!" and "No. Just No. You are too enthusiastic." It was cracking me up and reminded me of some conversations I've had at home with my own teenager. I saw another runner take a horrible tumble early in the race into a big, freezing puddle. He was soaked. Another runner who didn't seem to know him ran up, made sure he was OK, and gave him the pair of gloves off his own hands so that the soaked runner would at least have warm hands.
This is why I love runners and racing. I am a generally positive person, and negative people baffle and exhaust me. I can think of no other situation I can be in where there are just thousands of people gathered together, helping each other, and putting out such good positive energy. It's indescribable, and just so good for the soul.
Despite the conditions, my race was going very well. I was stunned when I hit the 3 mile mark at 32 minutes. This meant I was actually getting my first sub-33 minute mile 5K (3.1miles) even though it wouldn't technically count as such since it was a longer race.
As I came up on mile 4 and the big hill on West 3rd next to the Stadium, I started to lose steam, and had to stop and walk for about 20 seconds. And *just* as I started to panic and worried about falling behind the man in the inspirational shirt, I noticed the song I was listening to on my iPod - Mumford and Sons "After the Storm":
Get over your hill and see
what you find there,
With grace in your heart
and flowers in your hair.
what you find there,
With grace in your heart
and flowers in your hair.
Get over your hill and see what you find there.
Get over your hill.
Get over this hill.
Fight the good fight.
Finish the race.
Keep the faith.
And I did. As I came up to the bridge, I saw that I was at 51 minutes and had half a mile to go. I had this! I would finish under an hour.
My feet were numb at this point, but I just kept moving and hoping it would soon be over. As I made the turn onto 25th, and could see the finish line, I also saw Andy just as he saw me. He looked at me, he looked at the clock, and he started wildly clapping and yelling for me because he knew I was exceeding even my highest hopes for this race. His joy and my own made me tear up AGAIN. I freakin' cry a lot when I run!!
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| Bringing it in. I swear I'm running! |
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And you better believe I enjoyed that WHOLE cupcake!! Here is the embarrassing photographic evidence to prove it..
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| After the first bite. This takes guts to post, people! |
My next race is on Sunday, April 27 - The Cleveland 10 Miler. This is a big one for me! Every year this race has the most awesome shirts. They always say "Run Like A God" on the back, which is the theme of this Hermes' sponsored race. I. Want. That. Shirt. I've wanted one since I've started running, and I am so excited to earn it next month!
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| My one non-grubby picture from Saturday. |
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