What One Race Taught Me

On March 10th I woke up to fresh snow on the ground. Any other day in March I would not have cared but I had plans that included being outside for many hours. I was all signed up for the Lucky Leprechaun Half Marathon in Versailles, KY. In the winter I run on a treadmill in my basement because I do not like running in cold weather but here I was looking at a run in the snow. You may be rolling your eyes wondering why I signed up for a half marathon in March but the weekend before we had temps in the high 50s which would have been perfect. But considering it was March, I should have known.

So I looked out the window and contemplated excuses. My shoes are minimalist shoes with no insulation and I could just imagine the misery of cold feet. I had all kinds of ideas about what could go wrong but I got up and dressed. I signed up and paid for it, so I was in.

On the drive over I was amazed that the snow slowly disappeared. My concern about running in snow was addressed. They had lots of parking which is a big plus for a big race. They had 5K, 10 mile, and half marathon runners all starting around the same time so having lots of parking was a blessing. I have driven in circles for over a half an hour trying to find a parking spot in the past.

So far, several of my fears were alleviated. Things were looking up. We started on time to the sound of a bagpiper playing us on. After several puddles and a couple of areas of congestion we were off. We hit the first water station but I didn’t see a mile marker anywhere. Most races have mile markers at least every 2 miles so you have some idea of where you are in the race. Also many races have clocks every so often but not this one. We were out there without any idea of the time. Okay, I was out there without any idea of where I was and how long I had been running. It turns out many people carry cell phones and the race offered an app to monitor. Race pacers were also running the race but at one point the 2:00 and 2:15 were right behind each other and there was no way that was a 15 minutes space between those two people. So I also couldn’t really take that for face value as being accurate.

Every so often a 10 mile participant would ask me if they were on the right track and didn’t miss their turn. About 2 days before the race the course changed so people were a bit confused and worried. I only know that because my husband told me. I do not like to look at the course in advance. This has caused me issues in the past but not often. I figure if the course is marked appropriately I shouldn’t get lost.

At one point I stopped for a water break and grabbed a Gu. If you have never had Gu before it is a sugary, thick textured liquid substance. Athletes use it for an energy boost because it has calories and caffeine to get you moving. At around mile 8 or 9 (I have no idea since it wasn’t marked) I ate this Gu with a gulp of water. Shortly after I was flying over hills and enjoying the race again. It turns out when you give up caffeine and you take in even a small amount like there is in Gu, it works as a great drug. I was energized and ready to go.

Right before we hit the finish line, we separated from the 10 mile participants. So I knew we were probably about a 5K (3.1 mile) distance from the finish line. Knowing this also caused a quick boost of energy and I was good. That said, those last 3 miles are always rough for me but for some reason I wasn’t as worn out as I normally get around that point. Usually I start to focus on walking more and how much I hurt. This time, I didn’t.

When I crossed the finish line, I completed it in a realistic time for me. Then I found out it was actually 13.7 miles, not 13.1. A lot of people were upset about this. I just found it fitting.

I learned a lot during this race about myself and others:

1.  Worrying about the things that may go wrong doesn’t help the situation. It’s like the old saying goes – worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives us something to do but we don’t get anywhere.

2.  Sometimes you just have to put your shoes on and face the situation.

3.  I realized that I focus a lot on how many miles I have left and that mental energy that I expend on thinking about how much farther physically wears me out.

4.   Not knowing the time or distance let me just enjoy the experience and be in the moment. I stayed out of my head by enjoying the beautiful scenery and chatting it up with others.

5.   Caffeine should not be abused because when you need it, it is an amazing drug. (Okay, I already knew this but a reminder at times is good)

6.   Getting upset about the finish line being further than expected doesn’t make it get there sooner. It also doesn’t change anything about the experience except it took a little longer.

7.   We have a goal to reach but the journey there can be amazing if we allow ourselves to enjoy it.

8.   Basically a change of perspective can change the entire experience. I could have worried about the cold, freaked out about not knowing times and miles, and been pissed over an extra 0.6 miles. Instead, I bundled up, enjoyed the race course, and had a good experience with an extra 0.6 miles that I was allowed to run. It was a bonus.