10k....Check!

So I have totally slacked in the blog realm. Oh well, such is life.

In September we successfully completed the Grape Day 5k. We were both excited that we completed it, ran the whole way, and kept the same pace for the entire race. But man was it hard to get passed by runner after runner. Dan did a great job motivating me and reminding me that it was OUR race and only OUR race. The hardest part was getting passed by moms with double strollers pushing their kids. Despite all that, we made it! At that point that distance was the longest I had ever run non stop - 3.1 miles.

With the 5k in the bag we set our sights on our 10k. Dan thought it would be fun to run the 10k on Thanksgiving while we were visiting our family for the holiday. He found a 10k in Mesa Arizona. I was a little nervous doing this particular race since it was listed as a "competitive" 10k. We got our butts kicked in a small Escondido 5k, what would happen in a "competitive" 10k? But, that was the only 10k that we could find in the area so Dan signed us up for it.

The day before Thanksgiving we piled into the car with Dan's dad and drove to Arizona. After getting checked into our hotel, we headed out to pick up our race numbers and t-shirts. We then drove to where the race started so that we knew where to go and how long it would take to get there.

After getting a good night's rest we headed down to get omelets for breakfast (the perks of Embassy Suites) so that we would have fuel for the run. We got to the race site and there were TONS of people. There were two smaller (1 and 2 mile) fun family runs that occurred before the 10k so there were lots of people.

We had about 25 minutes before the race and figured that would give us enough time to use the restroom and get warmed up. At the starting line we spotted the porta-potties, but to our surprise there were only 3. There were thousands of people and only THREE porta-potties. Whose genius idea in planning was that? Dan asked the announcer if there were more some place else and he said that there were more in the park. We had no idea where the park was or how long it would take to get there so in the end we decided to wait in line - HUGE line.

I knew that there was no way that I could run without using the restroom so I waited in line. As time went on I grew increasingly nervous. What if we drove all the way to Arizona to run a 10k and ended up missing it because we had to use the restroom? How ridiculous would that be?!?!  The only part saving me was that we were not at the end of the line, there were about 15 people behind us.

Eventually, while we were still in line, the race started. Frustrated. Upset. Worried. We continued to wait. After about 5 minutes the announcer said that the runners would be going through the starting line and they would have to disconnect the timing system before they got there and if we want a time we need to go through the starting line in the next 5 minutes. As he is saying that we make it to the front of the line and are able to use the restroom.

We are relieved in more than one way that we are finally able to start our race. Since we were just about at the end of the restroom line when we started the race we were like the only people on the course at the start. While it was a little weird to be alone on the course it reminded me of our training runs when we were all by ourselves. This truly was "Our Race."

Eventually we began to do something that we did not do in the Grape Day 5k - we began to pass people. At the 5k Dan was pumped and so we started pretty close to the staring line. With that we were passed by a majority of the people in the race. That part was pretty disheartening. But it was a completely different race in the 10k. We started at the end and so we were able to pass people. Even though it was people who were walking, it was extremely motivating to pass people almost the entire race. Our pace was just about the same as the 5k, but being able to pass people instead of being passed does something for the spirit and definitely encouraged us along our run.

Another thing that we did differently this race and differently from our training runs was to change the music we were listening to. During the 5k and many of our training runs we just talked and had no music. While I love my husband to death, and love to be with him, not having any music or entertainment made the runs quite tedious. Dan eventually got the idea of listening to music. He has a micro SD card with music on it in his phone, so we began to listen to that as we ran. But, the music was his music. Reggae was not much better for me that silence. So still the runs were tedious. However, the night before the 10k Dan had me pick music to put onto the card for the race. This time we were listening to my music. The music made me want to dance and kept my spirits and speed up.

The course had mile markers and soon we passed mile 1 and despite a rocky start of wondering if we were going to make the race, we made it 1 mile and were trekking along. At this point we both were a little uneasy in our tummies, but we were feeling good in our legs and were making the race. Next came mile 2 and a short water break. While the water was refreshing it began to slosh around and I could hear it giggling in my tummy. Then we ran and ran and saw no mile 3. We began to get quite worried. Mile 2-3 went on and on FOREVER! Then we saw a sign for the next mile. But how could it be only mile 3? However, it was not! It was mile 4! There was no mile 3 marker. That was such a huge boost. We were now over half way done. At this point I think we picked up our pace and were running strong. The end was in sight and we knew we could do it.

And eventually we did. After 1 hour, 6 minutes and 21 seconds, holding hands as we crossed the finish line, we completed the race. The best part of the race was having my Dan by my side. Together as a team we can accomplish anything.

Yay for Team Windham!