Just ran a PW :(

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Last post: Jul 7, 2009 7:21 PM by awitt

Marykb

629 posts since
Jan 16, 2008

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Jul 4, 2009 10:19 AM

I am so bummed !http://community.active.com/images/emoticons/sad.gif!. Not just my worst 10K but my worst race EVER. I was FOUR MINUTES off my next worst 10K and a full TWELVE MINUTES off my lifetime PR! I actually ran a slower pace than my half marathon a few months ago.

It was fairly cool and dry for the Fourth of July so that wasn't even the reason - nor the famous killer hills in the Peachtree Road Race, after all I've run them before at much greater speeds. And it wasn't lack of training, since I run 20 mpw year round. The only thing I can think is that I had to get up at 4:00am because DH was volunteering and had to be there at 5:00. I slept about 5 very restless hours and then rushed out the door without my usual routine. Then I had 2-1/2 hours to hang around at the starting corral before my Time Group started. I didn't feel especially tired, but when I started running I just wasn't feeling the love. Also I was not well hydrated and had to take water at every station which I don't usually do (I usually don't take water until mile 4 or 5) and that slowed me down. But I still don't see how all those factors added up to the worst race I have ever ran!

Feeling down in the dumps.... I wanna do-over!

Recent races: Peachtree RR: 63:48, Doug Kessler Lightning 10K: 62:48, Atlanta Half Marathon: 2:19:54, Polar Bear 5K: 30:13, Chattahoochee Road Runners 10K: 61:03

Lifetime PRs 10K: <55:00, 5K: <27:00 (circa 1990's)

bellsway

242 posts since
Jan 28, 2009

Currently Being Moderated

1. Jul 4, 2009 12:17 PM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

SIGH! Sorry to hear your 4th of July didn't go the way you wanted. We've all been there at one time or another. None of those factors you mentioned in and of itself would spoil a

race but it sounds like you had the perfect storm of glitches to

contribute to your PW. The good news is that aside from your psyche, nothing was injured and you will live to race another day. Don't let it get you down. Pick another small race without the "cast of thousands" that were in Peachtree and go for it. Don't let those PW thoughts hang over your head too long. We're all waiting to hear about your next great race.

Plan your run and then run your plan.

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spicegeek

2,406 posts since
Jan 14, 2007

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2. Jul 4, 2009 12:27 PM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

ack - sounds like sleep and hydration were a big issue :0( sorry you had a bad day - but your worse is WAY better than may people best and thats still just a fraction of the total population most of whom don`t even try

It could be that you have a slight infection / illness that you didn`t really notice ? Do you feel good now ?

NYC Marathon Nov 1 2009 - 4:03:13 ( 9:17 mm )

NYC Half Marathon Aug 16 2009 - 1:55:38 ( 8:49 mm )

1 mile - 7:07 10K - 52:58 ( 8:32 mm)

4 mile - 31:35 ( 7:53 mm) 8K - 42:28 ( 8:32 mm)

15K - 1:22:02 ( 8:49 mm)

Find the Half Marathon Team on FACEBOOK

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lenzlaw

7,024 posts since
Jan 18, 2008

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3. Jul 4, 2009 8:03 PM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

Sounds like we had a similar experience, except I didn't have 50,000 witnesses! My stomach didn't feel quite right and I ended up taking walking breaks to keep it in check. It wasn't a PW but over 2 minutes slower than last year.

Len

We've come this far and it's still the same,
Runnin' out here in the rain.
Just one more mile, if only you could fly.
(Apologies to T. Rush and J. Tempchin, for the paraphrase)

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crl8686

689 posts since
Nov 11, 2007

Currently Being Moderated

4. Jul 4, 2009 10:49 PM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

An advantage of relatively short races like the 10K...with the short recovery time, you can do another one soon, in as early as a week if you're so inclined. Chalk this one up to the combination of factors you mentioned (which can all compound each other) and start looking forward to your next race.

"...I've learned that you shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do, but to the best you can do....I've learned that you can keep going long after you think you can't..." --- author unknown

2009 highlights...
•    @ 10K: Fiesta Days Run, La Canada, CA, May 2009, 50:53
•    @ 5K: Downtown Anaheim 5K, Anaheim, CA, June 2009, 24:45
•    Long Beach Marathon, Long Beach, CA, October 2009, 4:43:10
•    Post-marathon: Calabasas Classic 5K, Calabasas, CA, November 2009, 25:14

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yiscah

11 posts since
Jun 30, 2009

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5. Jul 4, 2009 10:58 PM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

I'm sorry to hear your race didn't turn out like you had hoped, Marykb.

If it's any consolation, your slowest time is still heaps faster than my fastest

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PedDoc1

133 posts since
Apr 25, 2008

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6. Jul 5, 2009 11:01 AM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

The good news? There's always a do-over ! Can't wait to hear about your success in your next 10K!! Remember my training run last weekend? Today's run went great (well, as great as a long run can go. I still hurt all over, LOL). Your next race will be fine. As someone on this site likes to say, plan your run and run your plan. You'll be back out on the roads in less than a week with another race on your calender!

05/09 Bridge the Gap, Quincy, Ill HM: 1:45:27

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cyndi t

756 posts since
Aug 11, 2008

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7. Jul 6, 2009 9:44 AM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

Mary,

Boy now you sound like me after my first 10K....but you're PW could probably kick my PR's backside....don't you worry, you'll kick it the next time.

Get out there, tie up those shoes, take a deep breath, and remember why we do this.....BECAUSE WE LOVE IT!

Cyndi

TRUST THE TRAINING!

Seaside Half Marathon 10/18/09 3:00:52

Beavertown 5K 11/7/09 35:57

2010 races:

More Half Marathon April 2010

Ridgewood Run 10K Memorial Day 2010

Seaside Half Marathon October 2010

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Marykb

629 posts since
Jan 16, 2008

Currently Being Moderated

8. Jul 6, 2009 8:15 PM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

Okay, just so you guys will know I'm not exaggerating about how bad this race was:

I took off yesterday, the day after the race, and ran this morning. I figured I'd do a slow, easy recovery run (I know, I know, recovery from WHAT?) I did four miles at a nearly effortless pace and I purposely didn't look at my watch until the end. (And mind you, it was about 5-10 degrees warmer and much more humid than race day). At the end of this run I checked my watch and guess what? I ran it 15 secs per mile FASTER than I ran the race. Really! Un-freaking-believable!

Recent races: Peachtree RR: 63:48, Doug Kessler Lightning 10K: 62:48, Atlanta Half Marathon: 2:19:54, Polar Bear 5K: 30:13, Chattahoochee Road Runners 10K: 61:03

Lifetime PRs 10K: <55:00, 5K: <27:00 (circa 1990's)

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AndyJD

143 posts since
Feb 10, 2009

Currently Being Moderated

9. Jul 7, 2009 4:33 PM

in response to: Marykb

Re: Just ran a PW :(

Hey Mary,

At least your watch is telling you that you had an off-day. Good news for everyone that runs a race is that no one is immune to having a bad race. Perhaps as another spin on how much worse it could have been, you did not DNF. Personally, I'd rather finish what I started than have to drop out for any reason, injury or otherwise. To say you finished means you have the medal to prove it, unlike those that could not or did not finish. Be proud of that