This week’s race, the Rothman Institute 8k, was a lesson in asking too much of my body and it, in turn, telling me to f**k off. Mind and body were not one for this race. That sounds like a really negative introduction, but running is not all rainbows and butterflies. Sometimes it is very real and very painful. And that was the case for me in the last two miles of this race. Let me explain.
This was my first race since the Chicago Marathon on October 9th. I had signed up to run a Veteran’s Day 5k last weekend but two weeks ago I caught a nasty cold that has left me weak and struggling for the past two weeks. I have never had such a slow recovery from a cold before and I haven’t had one in almost two years, but I’ve been constantly dehydrated and fatigued. Over the few days before the race I couldn’t seem to drink enough water and my legs felt like I’d been power lifting. I was nervous coming into this that it would be a slow and painful race. I ran really well last year in 31:45 at a 6:22 pace. It was good enough for 20th overall, 2nd in my age group, and a Top Seed coming into this year’s race. I really enjoy the course and I had high hopes of a repeat until Chicago recovery slowed me down and the cold hit. So I made it my goal instead to just run under 35:00 which would make me eligible for a top seed again next year where I could come back in better form.
The race started late, at 10:45, so I had been hydrating up until the race and still sipping on water until the start. The feeling of cotton mouth never went away and even walking to the start line I was nervous. The feelings of fatigue had subsided though and I was confident I could stay under that 7:00 pace so I could finish with a sub-35:00. It was around 67 and sunny for the start with a slight breeze. I was happy with my choice of attire based on the temps.
The gun went off and the race started in the shade so I decided to run off feeling and the first mile clocked at a 6:10. I was feeling good but could also sense the lingering muscle fatigue so I backed off to a comfortable 6:30 for the next two miles. Most of that portion also had shaded spots and by the second mile I could start to see the leaders coming back toward me. I was able to count my position as they passed and was sitting in 24th place at the turn-around. I was still feeling good and maintained that 6:30 for the next half mile, I even made a move on two women and passed them. We came to a water station around 3.25 and I grabbed a sip of Gatorade. Almost instantaneously I started to feel a muscle cramp on the right side of my abdomen. I thought ‘Oh shit, but I can breathe this out.’ I was oh so wrong, within a minute I felt like someone had stabbed a knife into my side and twisted repeatedly. It was the worst pain I have ever felt while running, worse than my IT band going to sh*t at Boston in 2015. I tried placing my arms on my head and breathing deeply but the pain was so bad I could little more than wheeze. My pace slowed to a 7:45-8:00, people started passing me left and right. Just after mile 4 I did something I have never done before in a race – I stopped running and walked. Against the advice I give over and over saying ‘no matter how slow you get never go from a jog to a walk, because it is so hard to get going again’. Well, I did it. I stopped. I put my hands on my head and did everything I could just to get air in my lungs because sounding like a smoker with emphysema having an asthma attack was actually scaring me.
The walk lasted for about 20 seconds when two guys ran past me, one on either side and one said “Come on Chica, you can do this” and the other said “You are almost there, dig deep you can surprise yourself.” So that is what I did, I dug deep and I made myself run again. I started reciting a mantra with each wheezing breath. “You are strong, you are power, you are fast, you believe.” I know that sounds slightly insane but it helped me and it got me through that final 3/4 mile. Even with people passing me, including an 11-year old, I focused on what I was saying and trying to keep my body upright. I wanted to curl up in the fetal position but I just had to make it a little further. When I came up the hill and past the art museum I have no idea what my pace was, somewhere I vaguely heard my friend Courtney cheer for me, but I crossed the finish line in 34:12 (I ultimately found out later than I finished 32nd in my gender and 10th in my age group, 25-29). I grabbed my medal, found a patch of grass, and laid down and cried. Because it hurt that badly and those were partially tears of joy for the longest 1.5 miles of my life being over.
The 11-year old congratulated me on the finish and I told him he was going to do great things. Jeremy and Courtney found me and after I caught my breathe and the pain eased into a feeling of soreness, after I told them about the whole ordeal, I made a point to ensure they knew I was still happy with my time! My body was not ready for the stress I put it through, I should not have gone out in 6:10, and I probably shouldn’t have taken that sip of Gatorade. Maybe I should not have even run the race? Sometimes our bodies and our minds don’t agree, but when that happens you can surprise yourself with your ability to dig deep and will your body. Despite all of that I had achieved my goal of a sub-35:00 and can come back next year, seeded, to find redemption.
Review
Expo – The Expo is at the Convention Center off Arch street and it is loaded with great booths, freebies, and marked down merchandise. It is super easy to get to and within walking distance of anything downtown or a short Uber or SEPTA ride from Old City. My favorite thing about the Expo is that it is located right next to Reading Terminal Market which has AMAZING food stands with everything from BBQ to Italian to fresh baked cookies and doughnuts. Two years in a row we have gone back to the Expo a second time just to look at merchandise then enjoy the post-race treats at the Market. The 4th street cookie company is on point!
Start – So they changed things up this year and put the half-marathon on Saturday with the 8k leaving the marathon by itself on Sunday. With that meant moving the 8k start time from 7:30am to 10:45am! Yeah 10:45 is late start but in November that meant really nice weather, on the verge of hot at 67F. It also meant I still got to see my husband finish the half-marathon with plenty of time to spare before my start. Once you are inside of security (note – cannot bring liquids inside, I had Jeremy grab me a bottle of water after he finished his race) it is very simple to get to the start line. The start faces opposite the finish line so as people are finishing the half-marathon you have an open road facing city hall at the start line. There are also plenty of porto-potties which is VERY important to me. Thumbs up!
Course – The course is basically an out and back. The first mile heads toward city hall and loops around back toward the Art museum, then you run down a road along the Schuykill River until hitting a turn around point at mile 3. This means that from just past one mile until the turn off to head to the finish line you can see who is ahead of you until the the turn-around and who is behind you until the finish. I love this set-up because it allows you to cheer on and be cheered by others who are running, AND it allows you to count your position (if you do that kind of thing) which helps both pass the time and make moves on the course. The course is also very flat aside from a slight downhill then a slight uphill right next to the Art museum. It makes for a fast race with plenty to look at. One of my favorites!
Post-race – Well first, you get a medal for running less than 5 miles. And then you can continue on to a giant food tent and walk through aisles of food gathering everything from Philly soft pretzels and bananas to chicken broth! Aside from all of the food there isn’t really anything to the post-race. It is, however, very easy to get outside of that area and back to public transportation or open roads.
Swag – I don’t expect much from an 8k, BUT this race is still lacking. You get t-shirt but they only come in neutral sizes so two years in a row an adult small has fit like a women’s large. Next year I will try for an extra small and see if third time is a charm. But for any of you small runners don’t expect anything other than a nightshirt. Otherwise you don’t get anything else, but again it is an 8k.
-Shaina
