Scootin'By
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Mar 23, 2023
- Messages
- 595
Thanks everyone! 
So this week I did a mini-taper. My schedule was just a mess - like absolute, no time for running mess. I squeezed in one regular run on Tuesday, but only just barely. I did 3 miles easy on Circuit #2 and just plodded along trying not to get hurt or trip over any curbs. Thursday was another mess, but I managed to get up early and do 15 minutes on the treadmill. I went SUPER easy here, just running at a 5 with no incline. It was actually really nice to run indoors for once, I was able to wear shorts and a t-shirt and watch Dug Days. It was also nice because it was even more easy than running easy outside and so I really felt like I was keeping limber but not in danger of hurting myself two days before my race.
After a long week, I was tired on Friday night so I did the sensible thing and went to bed at 830 (which is almost unheard of for me - he says as he's typing this at 9:45 on a work night). I took a few Melatonin to make sure I was out and slept until 5:10 when I just couldn't sleep any longer. Got up and showered to wake up, made my breakfast (but couldn't eat it, too nervous), then triple checked my supplies and left the door.
I was getting pretty nervous at this point, really questioning whether I could do this run or not. But I just kind of told myself that I had practically done it already with 6 miles, that I wasn't trying to win the race, just finish, and that it would be okay. I couldn't drink more than a few sips of the coffee I bought, still too nervous, but I was feeling better after this pep talk and was able to choke down a yogurt and banana.
By the time I got to the race location 30 minutes later, the sun was starting to come up, but there was still a lot of ice in the puddles. I took my first Salt Stick chew, checked in, and then warmed up by just kind of jogging to the end of the dirt road and walking back, plus some stretches. I was really going back and forth on what to wear. It was 31F and there were a few little cold gusts. I ended up sticking with my warm outfit (pictured above), instead of trying to go for more of my cute Christmas costume. I think this was the right decision. I warmed up while running, but I was never hot, just sort of peeled off layers of earmuffs, hat, gloves.
The race itself was pretty boring actually. It started at Fletcher's Boat House, just a bit north of Georgetown University, right next to the Potomac, and ran straight up the tow-path for 3.1 miles, before turning around. I'm used to biking the Capital Crescent Trail from college, so I was expecting some moderate grade, but the towpath was SUPER flat. There were maybe only two times where I felt there was any incline at all, and that was at the two water locks we passed.
The only problem with this course was that was basically gravel the whole time. Well packed gravel, for sure, but gravel, with big pebbles and a lot of frozen, muddy puddles. Maybe @Mr_Incr3dible would find this trail pleasant, but I thought it was a lot to pay attention to while running. I prefer a plain old street.
Besides that, the race went as planned. I started off with a pace of about 10:10. It went up a little bit to 10:40 and went down a little bit to 9:35, but it mostly stayed steady. I didn't take my first walking break until past 2.2 miles at the second water station. There were a few more after the turnaround, but I'd say about average. I took one nice long 60 second break about 38 minutes in, which really gave me some good wind, and then I didn't need another one.
Tracking my Garmin, I could see that there was only 0.6 miles to go, so I sped up a little bit, about 8:40, and kept that steady pace until making the left hand turn to cross the mats and hit stop on my watch. I was gassed, but I think with another break I could have made it another mile or so. A 10 miler in the Spring is definitely doable.
The Good:
No dehydration. I drank 16oz of sports drink before the race, plus 20oz on the run and had two Salt Stick Chews. I felt good. Didn't even need any water from the course until after it was all done.
The Clothes. Going with the warmer outfit this time was the smart move. I liked having the zippers on my pants and jacket to add stripped of hats, gloves, and tissues. I might need to invest in some kinda vest with pockets for other times.
The Not-so-Good:
The Snack. I brought along a chocolate covered peanut butter granola bar for the halfway point. I figured this would be a nice little reward for making it halfway and also give me some energy for the second half. But I couldn't get it down. My mouth was just not working here. I think I need to try some of the Birthdaycake Gu someone recommended earlier. Either that, or some other liquid energy/protein that I can just suck down.
The Course. I was lucky that this course was so flat. More hills up and down would have really made a difference on my time. I think I would have been more in the hour and change group versus the just over an hour group. But, that's a next time problem.
Final Thought
Overall this was a great experience. Not sure I would run this exact same race again, but definitely looking forward to my next 10k in February. I'm going to take a few days off and then set my sights on the next goal!
A big thank you to everyone who helped to get me here! I hope you'll stick around to see what's next
I did indeed. And I was not the only one
So this week I did a mini-taper. My schedule was just a mess - like absolute, no time for running mess. I squeezed in one regular run on Tuesday, but only just barely. I did 3 miles easy on Circuit #2 and just plodded along trying not to get hurt or trip over any curbs. Thursday was another mess, but I managed to get up early and do 15 minutes on the treadmill. I went SUPER easy here, just running at a 5 with no incline. It was actually really nice to run indoors for once, I was able to wear shorts and a t-shirt and watch Dug Days. It was also nice because it was even more easy than running easy outside and so I really felt like I was keeping limber but not in danger of hurting myself two days before my race.
After a long week, I was tired on Friday night so I did the sensible thing and went to bed at 830 (which is almost unheard of for me - he says as he's typing this at 9:45 on a work night). I took a few Melatonin to make sure I was out and slept until 5:10 when I just couldn't sleep any longer. Got up and showered to wake up, made my breakfast (but couldn't eat it, too nervous), then triple checked my supplies and left the door.
I was getting pretty nervous at this point, really questioning whether I could do this run or not. But I just kind of told myself that I had practically done it already with 6 miles, that I wasn't trying to win the race, just finish, and that it would be okay. I couldn't drink more than a few sips of the coffee I bought, still too nervous, but I was feeling better after this pep talk and was able to choke down a yogurt and banana.
By the time I got to the race location 30 minutes later, the sun was starting to come up, but there was still a lot of ice in the puddles. I took my first Salt Stick chew, checked in, and then warmed up by just kind of jogging to the end of the dirt road and walking back, plus some stretches. I was really going back and forth on what to wear. It was 31F and there were a few little cold gusts. I ended up sticking with my warm outfit (pictured above), instead of trying to go for more of my cute Christmas costume. I think this was the right decision. I warmed up while running, but I was never hot, just sort of peeled off layers of earmuffs, hat, gloves.
The race itself was pretty boring actually. It started at Fletcher's Boat House, just a bit north of Georgetown University, right next to the Potomac, and ran straight up the tow-path for 3.1 miles, before turning around. I'm used to biking the Capital Crescent Trail from college, so I was expecting some moderate grade, but the towpath was SUPER flat. There were maybe only two times where I felt there was any incline at all, and that was at the two water locks we passed.
The only problem with this course was that was basically gravel the whole time. Well packed gravel, for sure, but gravel, with big pebbles and a lot of frozen, muddy puddles. Maybe @Mr_Incr3dible would find this trail pleasant, but I thought it was a lot to pay attention to while running. I prefer a plain old street.
Besides that, the race went as planned. I started off with a pace of about 10:10. It went up a little bit to 10:40 and went down a little bit to 9:35, but it mostly stayed steady. I didn't take my first walking break until past 2.2 miles at the second water station. There were a few more after the turnaround, but I'd say about average. I took one nice long 60 second break about 38 minutes in, which really gave me some good wind, and then I didn't need another one.
Tracking my Garmin, I could see that there was only 0.6 miles to go, so I sped up a little bit, about 8:40, and kept that steady pace until making the left hand turn to cross the mats and hit stop on my watch. I was gassed, but I think with another break I could have made it another mile or so. A 10 miler in the Spring is definitely doable.
The Good:
No dehydration. I drank 16oz of sports drink before the race, plus 20oz on the run and had two Salt Stick Chews. I felt good. Didn't even need any water from the course until after it was all done.
The Clothes. Going with the warmer outfit this time was the smart move. I liked having the zippers on my pants and jacket to add stripped of hats, gloves, and tissues. I might need to invest in some kinda vest with pockets for other times.
The Not-so-Good:
The Snack. I brought along a chocolate covered peanut butter granola bar for the halfway point. I figured this would be a nice little reward for making it halfway and also give me some energy for the second half. But I couldn't get it down. My mouth was just not working here. I think I need to try some of the Birthdaycake Gu someone recommended earlier. Either that, or some other liquid energy/protein that I can just suck down.
The Course. I was lucky that this course was so flat. More hills up and down would have really made a difference on my time. I think I would have been more in the hour and change group versus the just over an hour group. But, that's a next time problem.
Final Thought
Overall this was a great experience. Not sure I would run this exact same race again, but definitely looking forward to my next 10k in February. I'm going to take a few days off and then set my sights on the next goal!
A big thank you to everyone who helped to get me here!
I hope you'll stick around to see what's next 
My goal for the year was going to be sub-30, but now I'm thinking I might make it sub-25.
You can search by body area, type of workout, duration, difficulty, etc. and find lots of options.
