Here are some photos:
The race went well. My coach has given me some good advice:
-only a very light breakfast (I had a banana and small coffee)
-to eat one gel 30 minutes before run
-drink only a little bit of water in the morning, then none
-carry no water (too heavy, won't need it for only 10k)
-run the first half of the 10k at a conservative speed, at a pace I could maintain, and to resist shooting out of the gate like everyone else would
-run the second half as a race and give it my all
-no walk breaks!
-no water on the course, unless just to wet my mouth but no swallowing
The course is mainly a downhill course, down Yonge Street. The first 7k were downhill on a slight incline with two small hills. Yonge Street is a huge landmark street, and in the very middle of the city. All the streetcars and cars were stopped for the race- very cool to be running down this street with no traffic.
At 4k I walked through the water station for about 20 seconds, and spit out my water.
I found km 5-6 hard. Was getting tired.
At 7k I stopped for a porta potty- I hate running with any sensation of having to pee and I felt like I was going to be need to be as comfortable as possible to finish the race strong. Spit out some more water at this water station.
8.5-9.5k was very, very hard. I was so tired. So DONE. I stopped to walk but became a bit panicked that that didn't even feel better!! I was nauseous and had bodily sensations of anxiety. I was seeing my time goal as possible, but close. I really had to talk myself down of the ledge. I started running again after about 20 seconds and could just see the finish line canopy.
I saw someone I knew, a former client, cheering people on and we connected glances and smiles. That was nice. Then about 200 meters from the finish I saw my coach (he had biked down for the race - about a 120km roundabout trip in the end!) and he looked at his watch. That was my cue to dash - and I gave it my all. I ran as fast as I could with my best attempt at form, and crossed the line. I stopped my watch and it said 1:14:23. I made my time!!!! I went over to where my coach was against the barrier and we punched fists and I showed him my time. Sweet! Except I felt like barfing.
My coach had predicted my time to almost the minute. He said I'd do 1:15. 1:19 was my time to beat, and 1:10 was my dream time.
I collected my medal and recovered. I met up with my sister about 20 minutes later. She finished about 5 minutes after me, but we don't know for sure because she lost her timing chip, and the timer overhead was from the first gun time, not our heat.
The sun came out and we meandered around, and walked to our car. We had parked it at the finish line earlier, which was such a good move.
Today my quads are a bit sore, and my shin spot is hurting, but other than that, I am good.
The coach said, "we have a lot of work to do, next goal race is Disney [half]. Get ready to work". Eek!
This race was hard - twice as far???!?!??? What am I thinking?