Brutal Conditions at the Nashville Country Music Race

[windwalker]

Yesterday a lot of us faced off against the Nashville half and full marathon. It turned out to be a very hot and very difficult course. The heat was almost a record and our warriors from the north were especially affected. In addition the first part of the course was very hilly. I train on hills and I was wondering on some of them if they were going to end.

Our chosen sport, endurance racing, whether we run, walk or run/walk is not without it's element of danger. Once again the distance claimed a life.

http://www.wsmv.com/news/19290627/detail.html

Those of you who were there know how brutal the conditions were. I would like to ask everyone to join me in a new mission. A mission to ensure that all of our friends have company in their races.

On DisneyRunning I have started a project called "No Princess Will Race Alone". Where everyone who is doing their first race or just wants someone to share their experience with can have company.

I started escorting our first time marathoners last January, both wish and DR, after we lost a member in the 2008 marathon from a stroke and no one even knew till she posted what happened several months later.

If you are looking for a new reason to do keep up your training for the distance and the thrill of just finishing has lost some of it's excitement then think about sharing your experience with someone doing their first race or someone who just doesn't want to race it alone.

Walking Panda

 

[Kirsty-Leigh]

This is an awsome idea walking panda, WDW full in Jan 2010 will be my first full, and the idea of running alone seems awfully ..... lonely.

Good luck with this project

Kirsty

 

[suzannews]

Prayers out to the runners family. Very sad.

I just want to say, even if you don't run with a partner, talk to people while out on the course. I did the Minnie, the 1/2 and lots of 5K by myself. I always talk to others while passing them or them passing me. It makes time go faster and it gets your mind off of the aches and pains. You never know who you may inspire or who may inspire you!!

 

[funwalker]

What a tragic loss...Thanks for sharing The heat effects some of us much more than others.
80 degrees seems hotter than it used too and then with full sun it is dangerous.

Me Too:

Prayers out to the runners family. Very sad.

I just want to say, even if you don't run with a partner, talk to people while out on the course. I did the Minnie, the 1/2 and lots of 5K by myself. I always talk to others while passing them or them passing me. It makes time go faster and it gets your mind off of the aches and pains. You never know who you may inspire or who may inspire you!!

 

[Cruella de mom]

The heat at the Country Music was miserable. I was proud that our Wish Team runners all seemed to know that they had to slow down to deal with the heat!

I saw over 10 runners getting treated in the last 3 miles of the HALF! Ambulances were everywhere. I was really stressing about the Wish teamers behind me especially since the water stops were already having to pour individuals water. I was praying there would be water for the back of the packers.

Then about 1/2 mile from the finish a yound girl in front of me started to wobble. A man behind me shouted "shes going down!" and we both rushed up and caught her. I can't imagine what kind fo injuries she would have had if we hadn't been there to cushion her fall!! I stayed with her while the man ran ahead to get a medic but the bystanders were already shouting and a medic was cycling to us in seconds. She was concious when I left her with the medic. She told the medic she was 16. Her friends has left her behind at mile 8.

I would love to run someone's first marathon with them. It would almost be like reliving the experience!

Cecilia

 

[twoWDWfools]

The heat and hills certainly did take it's toll on me as well as others. Wanted a PR but decided about mile 3-4 that it was not going to happen so let it go. Not worth getting sick over.

Fortunately, we never came across a station that did not have water. Some where filling cups as quickly as they were being taken but it was there. Also, lots of people out with hoses/sprinklers which I was certainly grateful for.

Panda for hanging with me and tossing water down my back as needed. It certainly did help.

Thanks to all the WISHers who were there cheering and helping. Also to those who were able to stay to watch Patrick and Lisa finish their first fulls in those conditions. I am so proud of both of them.

I also would have no problem helping someone out who needs it. I normally am alone during training and on the courses but do talk to people around me and it helps.

 

[ultramickeymouse]

Great job everyone on dealing with the heat.

I Race Directed a Marathon & Half marathon the week before and we had race day temp of 91! Record heat and 20 degrees above normal. We had several issues of runners going down at finish line or getting sick on trail. Luckily we had docs on bikes and at finish line so no hospital trips were needed! Very lucky. Many runners/walkers didn't use there heads and went out too hard. Glad everyone here didn't!

 

[windwalker]

More on Sharing Races

We all have more than our share of stuff to worry about. Wouldn't it be wonderful to do a race at least once a year when you didn't have to stress over your finishing time. Sharing the experience with another athlete especially one doing their first endurance event can be a huge joy. Sometimes we forget to just relax and enjoy the experience.

We have plenty of stress with work, the economy, family issues, the list sometimes seems endless. Any time we can eliminate a stress and turn it to pleasure it's a good thing. To much of our life we spend worrying about something instead of enjoying it. It's easy to burn out when the PRs are hard to come by, sharing the experience can revitalize your love of the journey.

Yes it's ok to push yourself in workouts and races and there is a lot of satisfaction is finishing a race or doing a training route in record time. We need both the thrill of accomplishment and the occasional break form feeling like we have to go for it.

Exercise is like a marriage in that you have to receive as well as give. When you do a race with another you get more than just a finisher medal, you get a memory that will be with you always. I have done races where I've gone hard the whole time and I wouldn't even be able to tell you the route of the course. It was just a blur and a finish time, there was no memory of the experience.

I've stated the last few years doing the endurance races with others and it's so much more than just a finish time. To start with I'm not whipped out at the end and can enjoy the rest of the day instead of spending it in recovery. I remember the good conversation and the sights and sounds of the course.

Try it, share a race with a person doing their first one or just with someone who doesn't want to have to face it alone. It just may give you a whole new outlook on what sport is about.

Thanks for reading.

Sharing Panda