But then I saw it was the day before my birthday. I figured, if I could run a full 8K the day before my 42nd birthday, that would be cool. So I agreed to run with Lara.
Between the time I agreed to do the SteepleChase 8K and the time it arrived, I had no time to increase my training to 8 kilometers. In fact, I'd missed a couple of regular workout runs due to travel challenges. But I knew I could run 5k and if I power walked the rest, there'd be no shame--just finishing would be a personal win. Lara had the same mentality--she went in with the idea of just doing it would be personal win.
Well, the night before the race, the bottom fell out of the sky. Torrential rains fell all night long. I'd hoped it would clear up by morning but the forecast was not promising. Lara and I messaged each other and decided rain or shine we'd still go. At 5am race day, the rain was still pouring.
Now, my usual running partner and I have run in 19 degree windchill, we've run in the pitch black, the fog and even air so thick with pollen it coated our skin and clothes as we ran. Very little deters our morning workouts when I am in town. But we always postpone our run for rain.
At 5:30am race day, the rain had not abated. Lara made a trip to Walmart and picked us up some ponchos. We both headed to the SteepleChase check in, making pleas to the rain to go away. When I pulled into the parking lot, no kidding, The Cult's Rain was playing. The rain was going to be with us for the duration.
So Lara and I donned our sexy ponchos and headed out to the start line.
You can see us in the red ponchos left of center. Many more people actually registered for the race, but only the serious runners and a hand full of goobers who didn't know it was totally appropriate to forfeit your registration fee and stay home where it's warm and dry--you know, to take a rain-check.
All the serious runners had the good sense to wear shorts. When I saw it was 45 degrees and pouring rain, I put my all weather pants (ones I use to wear over ski leggings) over my running shorts. I wanted to stay as dry as I could. In hindsight, it should have occurred to me that, after nearly 20 years, some the weather proofing might have worn off. I quickly took on at least five extra pounds of water around my legs as my pants collected water between it's inner and outer layers. We'll call that a lesson learned. Lara and I had laughed about the less than aerodynamic aspects of our ponchos, but I'm glad I wore it. As soaked as I got, it would have been worse without. But between the water weights and poor aerodynamics, I have prime excuses for my less than impressive time.
Great pace time or not, I finished and in under an hour, which is better than I anticipated. While I did have to walk some, I ran more than I walked. And best of all, I wasn't even a little sore. This tells me I didn't push myself --I might actually be able to run a full 8k. And if I can do that is a 10k too much of a stretch? I reckon we'll see.
For the moment, I'm feeling really proud that I not only showed up to run in the pouring rain but I crossed the finish line with enough energy to go back down the race route to catch a friend who was behind me so I could accompany her to the end of the race.
We dragged our soaking wet selves inside and ate the offered Chick-fil-a chicken biscuits without shame or remorse. Mmm, warm chicken biscuits.
The best, most rewarding part of taking part in this race, however, was an exchange on Facebook I had with one of my friends from my days at Agnes Scott College. I have to preface this by mentioning this woman is an athlete to the core--soccer, softball, running. So the exchange is all the more meaningful to me.
She called me a "runner." I'm a runner. Ha ha. I'm still giddy about that. But I am and if I can be a runner, just about anyone can.
No comments:
Post a Comment