I ran the Frozen Four (4 miler) yesterday before heading out of town for some family stuff this weekend. The Frozen Four was to benefit a student at the school where I work. He is a cross country runner. Last summer he was at cross country camp and got sick. Long story made short he ended up in Vanderbilt for 5 months with MRSA staff and beat a 10% chance of survival. He is home now but not back to school and not don't fighting for his health back. I've heard many say that the doctors said that his body beat the odds because he was in such good shape from being a runner. I think that is a pretty big deal as such a young person. We expect all young people to be healthy and resistant to health problems. This makes it so real that it is important for kids to be active.
I don't know what all they expect from him in his recovery timeline, but I hope that he will run again one day. I know that until that time I will work hard to be my best as a runner because I'm blessed to have the ability that has been taken from a kiddo that loved to run.
How many others out there would love to run, but can't? If you have the ability to run I encourage you to head out and run for someone who can't. Notice that I said "ability" to run. That doesn't mean that you have to be a "runner" you just need to put one foot ahead of the other, set a goal, and go. No need to be good at it. Take it a day at a time. Twitter folks please check out @run2walk. If you are interested in running for those that can't you'll love what they have to say. They are in the process of launching their organization. Watch it unfold and be a part.
Back to the race. I was off from running this past week for a piriformis injury. So Saturday was my first run back. I was told to run and see if it hurt. If not run ahead, if pain happene I needed to walk.
It was about 30ish degrees. Not exactly sure. I had a goal to have more than one person behind me this time. At my first 5K there was only one lady behind, I was next to last. So even two people behind me would be an improvement. I got there got ready and we took off. It don't take long for the group to pull ahead. I was far from alone though. I was just in the end of the pack. I set my pace steady. I had a group near by that was speeding up slowing down over and over. I got kinda tired of it. Lol. It was like setting cruise on the interstate and having that irritated car pass and fall behind over and over. I had ear buds in and had them turned on. The people would talk when I went by. They didn't think I could hear I guess. I heard that they were determined I pass me. Well, that motivated me. They passed a few more times but I was steady and that was worth a lot. I knew they would get tired over time. I felt better each mile. At 1 mile I called my husband (thank goodness for voice control in my ear buds) I had him meet me when I passed the spectators and grab my hoodie. I was sweating up a storm! He did just that. I felt so much better. Miles 3 & 4 were better. In Mile 3 I passed the cruise control group and continuously gained on them to the end. I also passed one more person on my last leg. Was it about beating those people? Heavens no!!! It was about setting small motivating goals for myself along the way. it worked well.
When I finished I was fairly fatigued. Nothing like the fatigue at the end of my first 5K though. I've trained up so much better and it was noticeable to me for sure.
I ended with people cheering me on at 55 min 36 seconds. My hubby was there taking pictures of me (coming soon). I finished ahead of 5 people. Improvement for me. I can only compete against myself.
I was thrilled with my pace. I have a goal of finishing my half marathon in 3'45". The last time I did a 4 mile
Training run in the cold (real cold) my pace was 17" miles. I finished in 1 hour and 10 min. So I cut 15 minutes off that time. I can run a 12-13" mile but when I do 3-4+ miles the pace slows down. So 4 miles at 55" was awesome to me. That was a 13 min 75 second pace. If I were to run that pace in the half. I would be done in 3 hours! Woah! What a thought!!! So I might need to reevaluate my half pace goal?! I'll see how my times are on the next few training runs. I guess those pain in the rear (literally) quarter mile sprints did some good even just the once.
I look forward to my runs this week to see how they go. I currently don't feel well (note the delayed post). I ran with a sore throat on Sat. It wasn't too bad, but Sat night and today I have felt pretty rotten. Any runners hve advice on running with throat/sinus crud going on? I'm sore today. I think it's a mix of first run after a resting week, fibromyalgia flare up from cold air (which I like to pretend doesn't happen) and the ickiness of feeling yucky. I iced last night. I'm hoping tomorrow is better.
So challenge yourself to run this week for those who can't. That will keep me going for sure!
Have a great Monday!
Picture from my phone below
More to come
Before race (in hoodie) one by myself one with Vetria!
After race (with a banana and my inhaler lol)
Enjoyed the blog
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