Even though I’ve spent the summer running just about every other day, I hadn’t run over 4.5 miles until early last week. I usually top out at 4. I’ve also never run in a race. Obviously, since I’m planning to run 13.1 in February, that needed to change eventually.
However, since the half marathon is in February – half a year away – I haven’t been in any real hurry to up my mileage. I’ve said it before, but I plan to be extra careful with any increases in time, distance, and speed. The past has taught me that sometimes my body freaks out a little when I run. My hips dislocate briefly, my tight hamstrings cause weird pains in my knees and hips, and my knees start to ache. I’m weird. It’s fine.
But there is such a thing as being too cautious, and running the same route at approximately the same speed several times a week for two months is probably the definition of that. So, when Susie offered up a giveaway for a spot in a 10K race in Chicago, I casually texted my mom saying that I’d love to run it. She said we had hotel points and Chicago is a drivable distance, so I should go for it.
There's such a thing as being too cautious. Sometimes you have to just do it. #fitfluential Share on XI entered, I won, and I had a week to get over my mini-fear of running farther than I was used to.
Like I said, my dad and I hit five miles together last Sunday. It was a really strong run for both of us, with negative splits all under 9:00/mile. After that, he wanted to run the 10k, too.
So, he took Friday off work. We left a few hours before lunch and listened to his stock of podcasts on the drive. By the time we picked up our packets and checked into the hotel, we were about ready for dinner.
Before we turned in for the night, we walked down to the start line so we’d be sure we knew where we were going in the morning. We came back to the hotel and watched the opening ceremony of the Olympics before crashing hard.
I slept surprisingly well for about 8 hours, and we left the hotel around 6:00am for a 7:00am(ish, since the corrals were released 3 minutes apart from one another) start time. After I checked a bag, we headed to the corral area and I found Susie – and we got a picture together! We chatted till the start and then split up to go run.
I know lots of people do mile-by-mile breakdowns of their races. Even though I can definitely see myself running a lot more races, I don’t think I’m going to be one of those people. Why? I don’t remember everything. I was running and taking it all in. But I’ll give you the overview of what I learned.
Running with so many people can hold you back…
I totally never thought about the fact that you can get stuck behind a wall of people in a race. There were a bunch of times where my dad and I just wanted to pass people already – and couldn’t. Blah.
… but it’s also really great.
I officially love running “with” a whole bunch of people. Every person is doing the same thing, they’re all doing it in their own way, and they all (probably) like it. It’s a cool feeling of community.
This was a cool race for me.
{OSU medal! And two delicious Clif bars.}
Doing the BTN Big10K was extra fun for me as a lifelong OSU fan. I don’t go to OSU (or a school that really cares about sports at all, if we’re being honest), but I can appreciate a good team chant and I like representing a team. Especially one as good as OSU ?
Training is a good idea.
I had run 10K one time ever before this race, and over 5 miles only twice. I finished perfectly fine and felt like I could keep going, but also would have been a little happier with my performance if I’d trained for it. I like to be prepared. That said, I’m learning that in many scenarios, done is better than perfect. Now, I’ve run a race and I’ve run a little bit longer, so I can focus on improvement.
Done is better than perfect. #fitfluential #bgbcommunity #feedyouradventure Share on XAfter the race, I guzzled a lot of water, ate a banana, some freaking delicious sausage samples, and a Clif bar, and took pictures. My dad and I walked back to the hotel, unsweatified ourselves, and packed up before heading back home.
Obviously, it was a quick trip. We were in and out of Chicago in under 18 hours. That said, it was a great trip. I conquered a fear, proved to myself that my body can do more than I give it credit for, and I got to spend lots of quality time with my dad.
Your turn:
Do you tend to be overly cautious or do you dive right in?
How was your weekend?
Huge thanks to Susie and Clif for the giveaway and lovely opportunity.
I LEAP RIGHT IN.
Or did.
Until I learned the hard way to test the waters first 🙂
I think I’m still a cautious person at heart, but I’ll probably do a mix of both 🙂
YAY So proud of you. SOSOSOSOSOSO proud of you, and so happy that you won the entry!
Thank you! And me, too ❤️
You are awesome! Way to go my friend!!! DIVE IN! If you have nothing to lose, just do it! xoxo
Thanks, Rebecca!
YAY! This was so fun to read because I can feel your excitement (and share it with you). So many good points too…running with a group (like a big race group) is a double-edge sword. Love the camaraderie and support but the congestion, especially in the beginning, is tough. Enjoy your accomplishment 🙂
Thanks so much, Emily!
THis is so cool Ellen! I loved your excitement and the fact that you got to do it with your dad. I totally agree with you that running with others is both hard and wonderful. It motivates you, but it’s hard to edge around people without being rude. However, it sounds like you did an AWESOME job and I bet that food tasted so good afterwards.
Hahaha everything did taste particularly amazing after that run. That’s a great point 😀 Thanks for the support, Emily!
Congratulations on finishing the race! I love that you did it with your dad, too. I’ve tried to run with my dad before, but he’s an ex-cross country runner who has kept up his speed all these years… safe to say our paces are a leeeeetle bit different 😛
This weekend we had a friend stay over and explored my hometown with him on Saturday! Then we went berry picking with family yesterday. 🙂
Hahaha I would sooo not be able to keep up with your dad. I’m slow and steady ?
That sounds like an amazing weekend! I’d love to go berry picking sometime! I’ve only ever been apple picking 🙂
Yayyyy! Way to go on an awesome race, girl! I love that you Dad raced with you – what a fun memory!
Thanks, Kristy! It was great 🙂
Congratulations, Ellen! Such a fun recap- the first of many from you I think!! You rock girl and totally inspiring me to race!
Thanks so much, Julia! I say go for it 🙂
I’m always always always overly cautious. I blame my dad, he’s a doctor and I think he just made me paranoid about everything in life.
Since going to college though I’ve gotten much better about just diving in and giving things a go!
I think college did that for me, as well! I’m still pretty darn cautious, but a little less so now.:)
How inspiring! Congrats on the race!! I am always overly cautious about nearly everything, while it’s good sometimes, it can also work to my detriment.
My weekend was really good! I got to watch my husband win his golf tournament. It was beautiful out and such a gorgeous course!
Thanks so much, Ashley, and congrats to your husband! I’m glad the weather behaved for you!
You looked just as cute pre and post race! Way to go! 😀
Hahaha thanks, Carmy! 🙂
I am definitely overly cautious but I want to push myself to take a few more risks this last semester of college! 🙂
Same, but you know, I say go for it! Enjoy yourself 🙂
Congrats on your race! I am definitely overly cautious these days. I want to run further, but I know my time constraints and therefore often plan a shorter run than I probably could push myself to do.
Thank you! I usually do the same. My goal is to really push myself once a week right now!