Yesterday I ran Pittsburgh's The Great Race. It is one of the largest road races in America and the largest 10K in PA. Last year I had my PR (51:15) on the course and coming in with better training and better times, I was optimistic about my performance. I would have been happy with a PR (I felt it was well within my reach) but my big goal was sub-50. I'm not sure if I had that in me, but heck, it couldn't hurt to shoot high.

Pre-Race

I wake up to cloudy skies and cool temps. It's in the low 60s but it's pretty humid. I pick up Chris and his friend, Aaron, who is in town and running with us. The boys are natural athletes even if they haven't trained, and they aren't shooting for any PRs, so they're just enjoying themselves. 

We get to the race early because I am meeting Elora's dad, Dan, a friend I made last week during my 20-miler.  I was shocked that with about 7,000 runners, I was able to spot him almost immediately. Just as I remembered, he was a phenomenally nice person... the type of person who not only smiles a lot, but whose smile makes you smile, too. During our brief chat I learned that he was going to qualify for Boston at the Houston marathon and that the woman who told me to take her food and blog about the event was his wife, who was an adolescent addictions counselor! (For those of you who won't know, my research focus is on adolescent substance abuse). It makes me think of the old saying, "A stranger is a friend you haven't met yet." After chatting with Dan we headed over to unbelievable porta potty lines. I lucked out and was able to finish up before the start, but other members of my party were still occupied. Since I was hoping to smash my PR, I uttered my apologies for abandoning the boys (who could fend very well for themselves) and ran off to the start.

The Race

Crowds! Crowds! People everywhere! No corrals! Agh! (Am I being transparent enough?)

From the second I step over the mat, there is one woman walking smack dab in the middle of the course, and as we approach a hill that raises 100 feet in about a tenth of a mile, more walkers get in the way. I get over the hill and find some people ahead of me who will break the crowds, but there are so many people that once they pass through the space they've made, other runners crowd in around them. Less than a mile in I hear someone behind me say "yada yada they're also running Marine Corps." I snap my head around only to yell "Marine Corps?!" at a few thousand people behind me. I have no idea who said it, but I thought that yelling in their general direction may prove effective. And it did! The other person in the conversation was my darling co-coach Megan who I thankfully run into lots at races, but don't see her as much as I would like. We chatted for 30 seconds and then split up, but it was so lovely to see her! Mile 1: 8:20, a little slow, but there was a big hill and lots of dodging.

Mile 2 enormous downhill and lots of old men with bad knees who are completely screwing with my rhythm. There's a fun band at CMU and things spread out a smidge. Really, just a smidge. Mile 2: 7:57, much more like it.

Mile 3 is rather uneventful. Even though it goes through the University area, apparently the largest road race in PA running by their dorms isn't enough to rouse them from their rest at 10 am on a Sunday morning. Honestly, the number of spectators is pathetic on the whole course. But, there were some very special spectators- Chris' Mom and Dad! Chris' sister, Alyssa, was running her first ever 5K, so they came all the way from Boardman, Ohio, to come and support her and us. Also there were Lyssa's really good friend, Lindsay, and Lindsay's boyfriend, Gio. It is the best thing ever to see friends on the course (I later learned the boys stopped to give them hugs, which I didn't and felt bad about. In spite of a PR attempt, I should have known better!) Mile 3: 8:14 Uh-oh. The sub-50 is probably out of reach, but I can still PR.

Mile 4? I don't remember it, but my pace was 8:05 which I'll take.

Mile 5 sucks. I don't know why they have an elevation increase of 200 feet at the fifth mile of a race. I slowed down big time. It was tough, too, psychologically, because other people were starting to slow and walk. The humidity was crushing me. It was harder to find rabbits to try to pace myself off of. No spectators anywhere.  Mile 5: A pathetic, sub-50 bubble breaking 8:49.

Mile 6 I got it back a bit. A big downhill helped. This part of the race is always tough for me because I'm close enough I want to unleash, but I still feel like I need to reign myself in. I think this is where more racing experience will help. We start to cut through windy city streets and it's hard to catch a tangent, but I'm going strong. Mile 6: 7:50 (I knew that stupid 8:49 was an anomaly!)

The last section of the race is very curvy and narrow. I'm pushing hard and feeling strong and I come to the finish line to find.... they moved it from last year. AGH! GOOD GRIEF! Ok, keep pushing, Kat. The course turns onto a narrow path and I almost run over a dad who, amongst thousands of people racing to get to one place, thought it would be sweet to have his roughly 2-year-old toddlers walk dad across the finish line. If he wouldn't have stepped right in front of me, I would have thought it was cute. Instead, he messed up my pacing and I could have killed him. I cross the finish line and the last 0.3 (see below for explanation) were 2:16, or a 7:34 pace. 

Results

Well, so which results do you want, because there are a few of them?

Did I crush sub-50. Not by any standards. I'm ok with that because it was a big goal. I think it's ok to aim high. One day I'll get there.

Did I PR? Chip results say I came in at 51:17... two seconds slower than my PR! That stinks. The dad at the finish line alone cost me 2 seconds. Upon examining my Garmin, however, I realized that I had run an extra 0.10 miles, likely all the ducking and dodging. Taking my average pace of 8:11 and applying it to 6.2 miles, I'd have come in at 50:50, a PR by 25 seconds!  I know it's not on the books, but to me, it still signals a strong run and an improvement, and isn't that the best part of a PR? 

And for me, the most important measure of a good race: Did I have fun? Yes! Meeting Dan (again) and seeing Megan. Hanging out with the boys and seeing Chris' family on the course, I am so thankful for the support of those around me. Seeing the sweet moment with the dad and his kids (I'm not heartless, I'm just goal-driven!). As always, racing makes me feel so strong and healthy. It helps me measure all of my hard work and training. It helps me connect with others. I've said it before and I'll say it a thousand times again, I don't think I'd rather do anything than be with other runners out on a run.

Other Results

Alyssa did great at her first race and she had so much fun. I think we have another runner to join our races  Other people who did particularly awesome:

Chris and Aaaron for finishing strong without any training (Chris wins the supportive boyfriend of the year award, doing races with me!)

Kasey, who I ran the half with, for coming in in the 48s... I haven't talked to her yet, but I'm sure it's a big PR

My friend, Sarah, who came in 4th in our age group for the 5K (reminder: BIG RACE!) with a time in the 20s!! 

Great job to all the runners, I hope you truly had a Great Race.

Today I was up at 5:30 to run 20 miles around the lake at beautiful North Park.

Pre-20 

I get to the boathouse around 7 (it's at least a half an hour drive from where I live) and I see about 10 Team In Training members, balloons and maybe 20 volunteers. This is either a really big Team event or a race. Either way, people come to North Park to run the 5 mile loop and there isn't much of a way around it. I may be in trouble.

I ask one volunteer what is going on and I find out there's a 5K, Elora Palooza, starting at 9 am which would benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. She doesn't know the route, so I ask another volunteer who directs me to "the man in the white hat" who is standing with another man who is wearing a MCM 2007 shirt. Our conversation goes something (very roughly) like this:

Me: Oh! I ran MCM last year!

MCM shirt: Yeah? Me and my dad (he points to White Hat) ran it together last year.

Me: It's such a great race! I'm training for it again this year. Actually, that's why I came over. I'm running my 20 today and if I can avoid it I don't want to interfere with your race- what is the route?

White Hat:  We're just running an out and back. Don't worry about running around us.

MCM shirt: If you hear a thunder of runners, it's us on the way!

White Hat: Do you want a donut?

Me: No, I'm okay.

White Hat: No really, you can have a donut!

Loop 1

I ended up leaving them without taking a donut. But, what I did leave with was this incredible impression of very nice people. Early in the morning, trying to get a race together and organizing volunteers, the race director took the time not only to explain the route, but to offer me food. As I ran my first 5 mile loop I couldn't stop thinking how nice they were. It made me realize how much I love running and the camaraderie. I don't think you'll ever meet people who are friendlier than runners. I also thought about how great it was to have father and son involved together not only in a charitable cause, but also as running partners! One day, many years from now, that is the relationship that I want with my child. With all of that milling around, the first five went by quickly and easily.

Loop 2

Before heading out for my second five, I realized that even if I couldn't run the race, I could still donate. I didn't have much cash on me, but I donated something and suddenly realized that I'd be finishing up my 20 around the time they'd be closing up shop. As I was filling out the form for my donation, I asked if I could volunteer at the end and they said I could, I'd just need to find them. I was leaving the parking lot for my second loop when I realized that MCM shirt had changed- he was now wearing a bib that read "Elora's Brother". This might have seemed transparent, but I don't think clearly in the morning or while running, so I was sort of suprised by this (maybe Elora's dad should have offered me coffee instead of a donut?). Running my second loop I couldn't help but feel so thankful. Thankful for all that I have and my good health that I was able to be out there running 20 miles. I passed a man in Army PT clothing and said thank you. He looked confused until it clicked and he said "You're welcome." I cheered on other runners. I don't know what got into me but I didn't feel like I was running for me today.

Loop 3

Before embarking on loop three I stop to talk to another runner I had passed several times. We're both out for 20 but he's a loop ahead of me. He's training for Chicago, loves the finish at MCM, and just comes across as another genuine, happy, runner. I really can't believe my good fortunate to be meeting such nice people this morning. The first three miles of this loop are rather uneventful; if anything they are a little fast. But at mile 4, I intersect with the 5K walkers. I also notice that the mile signs are pictures of a young girl beaming at mile markers. I got extremely choked up. I didn't know Elora, or her story, but meeting her wonderful family and seeing so many people out in her memory, combined with seeing her sweet smile just broke me a little. I ran towards the finish line with the other runners and walkers, so happy to be peripherally part of such a wonderful event.

Loop 4

The last loop was just a pretty darn uneventful five miles, unless you count man #1 who was running while talking on his cell phone or man #2 who was running with a huge Sunday edition newspaper under his arm.  Runners are such a wonderfully quirky bunch. Honestly, what kept me going strong for the 20 was my promise of volunteering at the end of the 5K. I wanted to get back in time to help clean up. I finished my 20 miles in 3:19:47, for a 10 minute pace. A strong run that I was very happy with.

Post-20

I tried really hard to volunteer- I asked three separate people how I could help. They only told me to take their food. I'm stubborn and I wasn't going to leave without helping, so finally one woman said that the most helpful thing would be to tell others about the race next year. I told her that witnessing the event was so moving that I was already planning to blog about it. She thanked me and sent me off with some Powerbar meets Sport Bean things.

It was a beautiful day and everyone looked so happy. There were cute little kids eveywhere, as it was very much a family event. They even gave the kids teddy bears, which I thought was such a sweet and thoughtful gesture. From what I could tell, it was really a great event.

Very post-20

It's a few hours later and with the help of Google I learned a bit more about Elora and her story. Taken from the website, Eloras Hope ,I learned the following: "In April 2006, Elora, a 7th grader in the North Allegheny school district, lost her life after a courageous battle with Leukemia. Elora faced her illness bravely as she had faced so many other challenges in her life. Before she was two years old, she was hit by a car and sustained a brain injury—but her academic and physical struggles did not stop her “can do” attitude and her loving spirit. She loved school but required adaptive education. Elora especially enjoyed 5K Races in spite of always finishing long after the other runners crossed the finish line. This never stopped her from encouraging others along the way. Elora brought out the best in others and Elora’s HOPE Foundation wants to continue this tall order." Last year the Foundation raised $11,000 for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society and also has a scholarship for a college student majoring in special education.

I feel really privileged to have been part of today. A lot of people ask me why I run, but after today I really wonder why other people don't.

I should also mention that while I was running  and being so inspired by those who are helping to fight cancer, I didn't yet know that my step-Aunt Carol lost her battle with ovarian cancer early this morning. I found out as I was finishing this post. This is the point where I lose my words, but more can be read here.