River Run 10k Recap!

Well Saturday was the annual River Run 10k. This is my second year doing this race. I have previously stated how much I like the 10k distance, well I am happy to say that I still do. The River Run is always so large. This year was no exception! There were 1599 clocked finishers for the 10K. Wow!

So the plan was to meet Carrie at Gander Mountain Parking garage at 5:45 am. We were both a little worried about parking as it is also Riverfest in Wichita this weekend. So early was the game plan. The night before Brandi asked about carpooling. So I picked her up at 5:50 am, I was running late already! We still got to Gander Mountain and had plenty of parking so that made me happy. We met up with Carrie and walked to the store front to let Brandi meet up with Sherry.

Carrie and I left the others to go get in the port-a-john line where we also ended up meeting up with her SIL and BIL, Jennifer and Mark. (I told you there were lot's of people!!) Carrie and I had originally agreed to run our own races, so I decided to run with headphones in, which is something I have never done in a race before! I got myself ready and then the cannon went off. The one odd thing about the entire morning, I was not nervous at all; no butterflies or stomach cramps or nerves. Weird, but I was thankful!

Pre Race Carrie and I had a guy come up to us and ask if we were running....nah we wore bibs for the heck of it ;) Well this was his picture of us.

As soon as I started running I felt great!! I was excited that there was tons of people and I was excited my legs felt fresh! I was trying super hard to not sprint out, my goal pace was 11-11:30 minutes per mile. I was starting to get a little worried at the first mile marker that my gps was going to tell me I did a 10-ish mile, but it didn't!! 11:06, so I was right on target! The only downside to this first mile was that it finished on brick! I hate running on rick, I must do something weird with my gait because it always ends up hurting my shins! From here on out my right shin was burning.

Mile two was directly into the wind! I made it my mission to ignore my shin and focus on strong running in the wind. I was definitely feeling it though every couple of yards I would get one heck of a gust that would push into me. I tried to keep thinking that if we were going out into the wind then it would push us back! My second mile was my quickest with a 10:50, into the wind! So while I had my headphones in I thought about turning my head to see where Carrie was, but I talked myself out of it because I was running my race and I wanted to put my attention back to me, I know it sounds selfish, but I really wanted to run the best race I could.

Mile three was kind of boring. We were finally running next to the river, but there were not tons of people with me, I kept picking people to catch while I was running and I was succeeding, but I was just kind of bored. I kept looking across the river at the leaders in awe. I was trying to see anyone I knew, lol.  I still felt great, but something was missing. I had some crappy music playing, like way too much Britney Spears...and I was just running alone.

Carrie getting into her groove!

Mile four was interesting. We started to run back south and I finally saw Carrie. She said she had seen me for awhile, but I didn't see anyone, so it was nice to see her. We ran together for about.....10 steps! LOL!! She saw Mark right ahead of us and it was her mission in life to catch him.....never tell that girl she can't because not only will she, she will cream it! I knew that Carrie was feeling stronger now that her first three miles were over, but there was no way I was going any faster, just not me. So I made it a mission to keep her in my sights. It worked for awhile. (Later I found out that she had negative splits, which was what I totally expected...she was cruising!)

Me (left) just putting one foot in front of the other!

Mile five was where I was getting tired. We were coming out of the park area finally and I was still picking people off, but I was hungry ( I didn't eat breakfast) and I was starting to feel a little dizzy. I took my first walk break. I did speed walk and kept my spot in the runners, but I was definitely tanking in the blood sugar department. I was wishing for a Panaera cinnamon crunch bagel so badly. I never got one, so I started running again. I got annoyed at myself for walking because I was staying the same speed as my fellow runners by speed walking and then I started to pick up pace again. About here was when Mark and I started playing tag your it. Back and forth he took the lead, then me, then him, then me...I wanted to stay in the front badly, but I was getting really tired.

Mile six was all road. Ugh. People could see me if I had to slow down and that was what kept me from walking. I slowed way down though. I was having allergy issues at this point and I could not swallow. There were still so many people that I really didn't want to spit and have it land on anyone! It was a lose-lose situation. I slowed down to a 13:00 and then I had to walk for the second time. I could not get my throat clear. I was so mad! My legs felt great, but I am not sure if I ran past something that set me off, I could not get oxygen into my throat because of the mucus build up (gross!!).

Mile 6.2, Mark sprinted past me. Damn him!! LOL!

Finish line! (Stupid shorts!)

I saw the clock and new that I was going to not make my goals, but I was still really pleased with my race, just not the last mile. I tried hard and I was happy. I did manage to get a new PR, which is always the point, but it gives me something to work for on my next 10k, The Southside Scorcher in July. I finished in 1:15:22. Respectable. On to the next training plan....I am sure Carrie has it in there to kill me slowly.....:)