Sporting Life 10km Race Recap

Rain, rain go away come back some other day ... Mother nature must have heard me and decided to hold off the rain until after the race. 

It was a prefect race day morning nice and cool, the temperature was 18C and NO rain in sight. 

For my 1st 10k Race I picked the Sporting Life 10k. It takes place in Toronto and runs down Canada's most famous street - Yonge Street with the finish line just outside of Fort York.

The race is mostly downhill with a small uphill at the 3k mark. It is considered one of the fastest Downhill 10k's and a great place to set PR. 

I spend most of my Saturday running around trying to find Coconut Water, apparently there is a shortage... some sort of problem with the supplier not being able to meet demand. DARN, I was really counting on that to keep me hydrated during the race. 

I also had to run out and buy a hat after so many of you suggested that this was a MUST have for a rainy run. 

HOW could I not have a hat?? 

You SEE I'm not a athlete or I should that say I was never and athlete and really never saw a need for a baseball/running hat. 

Funny story... my hubby actually gave me a baseball hat as a Birthday present YEARS ago and I was actually MAD at him as to why he would think I would ever wear one. I took that sucker back and got myself a nice Sun Hat. 

I also laid out my various running outfits, since I wasn't sure what the weather was going to be like I had: running tights, Long sleeve running shirt, running skirt, running tank top, windbreaker... You can see I was VERY confused by what to wear.

More confused was I by how to attach the timing chip, I was worried it was going to fall off during the race... but I finally figured it out and the chip never moved once during the race.

I'm excited that we get to keep the timing chip as a souvenir!! AND certainly this was much better then the ankle bracelet I had to wear at Harry's Spring Run-Off.

I started my morning bright and early ... 5:30am, and actually managed to get a good 7hrs sleep. 

I tried to keep Breakfast simple as with my last race since it worked out so well.

 

A bowl of Oatmeal with 1/2 Banana and a cup of Green Tea, and since I couldn't find Coconut water I took the easy road and had some Gatorade before the race. I don't think I will be doing that again, I'm not a Gatorade drinker and I just don't find it did anything for me.

I made sure that I had my Oatmeal before 6am, that way I would have plenty of time to digest and it would not affect my run. This works perfect for me.

Since the Family was not going to be able to join me at the race, due to Hubby's injury  they did the next best thing and watched the Race Online

How great is that!! The Kids absolutely loved it and didn't feel left out at all. 

I decided to go with my favorite Running outfit; 

what else but a running skirt. Seriously if you haven't run in a skirt yet you need to try it, I'm sure you will love it as much as I do.

Once at the Race site I could NOT believe the Sea of people as far as my eyes could see. It was just AMAZING to see all these runners lined up all the way down Yonge St.. They were expecting over 14,000 runners and it certainly felt like it.

All Race picture were taken with my Blackberry, hence it being blurry

I was in the Purple Corral which had an estimate time of 1:15hr for the 10k, I felt comfortable with this time. I positioned myself in the middle of running pack and anxiously awaited the sound of the horn. 

Our Corral was 'released' at 8:21am and off we went without a hitch. Most of the runners around me seemed to be running at my pace, which when I checked Dennis (aka Garmin) was WAY faster then I usually run. I felt good and didn't think that I need to adjust my pace at this point so I continued. 

The km's where just flying buy and next thing I knew I was at the half way mark and I was ONLY 28min into the race. 

I'm not quite sure what happened, but it seems that as soon as I hit the 5k I started to have a twitch on the outside of my knee and a pain that ran all the way down the side of my leg that was getting worse with every step I took. (Now I know that this is called IT Band Syndrome, on Sunday at the race I just knew that it was a nuisance and I wanted it GONE)  At that point I took a minute walking break to see if I could walk it off, but when that didn't help I stopped and stretched my leg and massaged the area, nothing seemed to help the situation. 

I was NOT going to let that get to me, so what if I wouldn't finish with my estimated time. What mattered was that I was there and that I was running. That I had the courage to take this on even when it seemed impossible. 

So the rest of the way I ran when I could and walked when running was too painful. 

I was so happy to see that finish line!!

I manged to run across it with my arms held up high, stopped Dennis and saw the time was 1:10:16!!

HURRAY ME!!

  Thank you to the nice Girl at the finish line that offered to take a picture of me with my Blackberry!! 

Look at my BIG Smile! Injured and still came in below my estimated time!! 

YOU bet I'm Happy and I will be back next year to beat that time and come in under the 1hr mark FOR SURE!!

Results:

Chip time: 1:10:16.1

Overall: 10225/11918
Females: 5339/6691
F35-39: 795/961

Everyone received a Tech short sleeved Shirt and Medal. Overall it was an Amazing experience and I can't wait to do it again next year and set a new PR for this race as well as receive a medal without any spelling mistakes

 I really didn't run DOWNTOEN

Although 10k seems like impossible distance to run, I am prove that NOTHING is impossible and everything is achievable with a bit of training. Just believe in yourself.
Even when I was hobbling down to the finish line I was thinking that I would be back next year and what possible race I could do next, could I even do a 1/2 marathon in September?
I certainly did catch the running bug and I like how it makes me feel like I can do anything. 


Thanks for all your emails, tweets and comments on the blog they have been overwhelming!!


Now an update on Hubby, he went into surgery on Monday due to his separated Shoulder. The Surgery took way too long due to him having some complications with his heart. 
He is now on blood pressure medication and we are going to see a Cardiologist sometime this week when he feels better from the surgery. We are hoping that this was just from the sever pain he was in during surgery which quite common.
I'm playing nurse (minus the outfit) for the next couple of days.
Can't wait to be back out running.

That's Right I did it, Sporting Life 10k

Chip Time: 1:10:16... actually I thought I would have come in at 1:15.
I am VERY VERY Happy with my time!!
It was my first 10k race and were it not for my leg cramping up and having to hobble the last 2miles I would have come in under 1hr AND that I can NOT believe.
I'm very very happy that I hang in and didn't give up and finished with a smile on my face. 
I will post a detailed Race Report tomorrow or perhaps Tuesday, as Hubby is going in for surgery Monday and we will probably be at the hospital all day. 
For now I leave you with a picture of Me and My BLING!! I just love race medals ...

This Picture was taken when I got home, since I didn't have anyone at the race waiting for me.

Thank you all so much for your support and kind words, I don't think I could have done it without you!! !!

Countdown to Sporting Life

THANK YOU!! 
Thank you for all your kind words and support and emails you have been amazing and I'm so blessed to be part of such a great Blogging community! 
Hubby is hanging in... mostly on drugs, but even that doesn't help with the pain. 
Surgery is scheduled for Monday Morning @ 9am, keeping my fingers crossed that everything goes according to plan. 
My Mom and Dad have been amazing and so much help. 
I came home today to find a spotless home, THANK YOU MOM!
Dad will be driving me to the Race on Sunday and picking me up at the finish line.  
Hubby obviously can't drive and we are trying to keep him as healthy as possible with the surgery coming up on Monday we don't want him to get sick, so he wont be coming to the race. 
I have to tell you that I was really SAD, OK I actually cried and maybe had small tantrum when I realized that Hubby would not be at the finish line waiting for me. 
It's my First 10k RACE!! and yes it's a big deal to me. 
It's not like I've been an active person and have been running all my life. NO, I just took up running 4 months ago and I think that it a great accomplishment on my part. 
YES it would be great to have him there at the finish line cheering me on BUT there will be MANY more races and honestly I don't expect him to be there at each and every Race I'm going to run. 


Training... I did get a 40minute Run on Wednesday, which was a struggle at first but I manged to hang in there and finish. 
Although I still need to get one more run in until Sunday I decided to not run the rest of the week, I think my legs really needed the break.  
I feel really great about that decision, I cant' wait to run on Sunday and I'm really looking forward to it. 


Today I picked up my Race kit for the Sporting Life 10k

I love Race Kits!! 
This one  came with a great white Tech Shirt that I can't wait to wear after the race.


Today I also received this great email from Jess at Halfofjess
Jess reminded me not to stress about it and just really go out and run for the fun, YOU are right Jess. I've been putting way to much stress on training and that just doesn't work for me. 
Jess also decided to be my Personal Cheerleader and I can't thank her enough for that!! 
THANK YOU JESS!!

Now I need your advise... it's supposed to rain on Sunday. I have NEVER ran in the rain, I'm not even sure what to wear, So any advise you have for running a race in the rain would be great.

I've gone and done it...

So I finally found some courage and registered for my First 5k Race. 
On April 3rd I will be running Harry's Spring Run Off @ High Park in Toronto. That's 3 weeks away!!
A 5km Loop over the scenic Traffic free, paved roads of High Park... should be fun.
It's fairly easy run but has a BIG Hill right at the end. The plan is to run the course before Race day. I'm just hopping to finish and looking forward to my Medal !!   

AND why stop at that I also registerd for a 10k Race. 
On May 2nd I will be running Sporting Life 10k, after all the Running Program is for a 10k.
This course is considered one of Canada's easiest and fastest Downhill 10k's, straight down Yonge Street!! Gald to hear that... I could use EASY and FAST!!

I'm a bit stressed out about this ... who am I kidding, I'm REALLY WORRIED about it.
WHAT was I thinking yesterday when I signed up for these? I must have had a mental lapse.
Will I be able to do it? WHAT was I thinking signing up for TWO Races?
The last session of week 11 didn't go that well and today was supposed to be a run day but my shin is still hurting so I'm resting.
The 5k is 3 weeks away which means I can't miss a day of my Training, which stresses me out a bit... and I usually don't get stressed about anything.
I have never done anything like this before, so I'm just wondering if I bit off more then I can chew? 
I can barely run for 25minutes... wow I'm such a Negative Nancy today!!
I guess the good part about it is I just realized while checking my calendar that my 'Aunt Flo' wont be visiting during that time... which at least is some good news, one less thing I have to worry about. 

Que Sera, Sera... 

How did you feel when you signed up for your first Race?