I just barely survived! (Sorry for the blur – but that’s what my vision was like too!)
We started the morning bright and early at 5:15. Once I was dressed, I made a breakfast. I did not get up early enough because this delicious toast with banana, PB + flax was in my stomach the whole morning!
I also drank some coffee 1) to avoid a headache later (hate that!) and 2) Because some studies have shown that caffeine increases athletic performance. I was hoping for a placebo effect at least!
I just barely got breakfast down when Caitlin and Jason showed up in our driveway!
We were in a bit of a hurry because Matt left his chip at home and we had to turn back! But when we arrived at the start line we were THRILLED to find that we were the first ones to get in place. Last year was such a crowd and this year we had a great start.
[Thanks to Jason for the photography!] I’m about 3 rows back.
The first 2/3 of the race were AWESOME. I started out running in the 6:00 mile paces and then slowed to a very steady and strong 7:15 or so. I crossed the first mile at 7:12 on the clock and 7:24 on my Garmin. Waaaay head of my 7:41 pace to beat. I was breathing really hard and the hills were tough, but I felt strong. I just said to myself "I’m doing it!"
Mile 2 was harder, but still do-able. I passed the clock at about 14:50, still averaging under 7:30 miles!! I got excited because I knew I would PR as long as I continued charging along. I sprinted up hills on my toes (which really increases my speed) and took advantage of downhills by increasing my stride length.
And then it appeared – Mt. Doom. And I was just a wee hobbit at the foot of the hill.
I looked at my watch and knew I could still PR if I could keep my pace in the low 8’s, but alas, the mountain got the best of me. My pace slowed to about a 10-minute mile and I was huffing and puffing. I got nauseous and actually thought I might throw up my un-digested breakfast multiple times. I almost walked but figured a slow jog was still a better pace.
The entire last .75 mile was up hill and it was hell. It actually made me mad because I was doing so well!! Little hills are fine for 5k’s but this hill was just a bit too much.
I crossed the line at 24:17 (24:14 on my Garmin).
Not a 5K PR, but certainly a 5K-with-a-killer-hill PR 🙂 All races are not created equal!
Matt clocked in a 21:05!
Caitlin and her friend, Kehaulani, were just behind me in the 27:00’s
The stats:
[I was pleased to see a lot of 2’s and 6’s in my stats 🙂 2+4 is 6 so I’m happy with my time! Heh heh]
Place Age Females ME Chip Gun Pace
There were lots and lots of people!! What I love most about Race For the Cure is how many people support the cause!!! It is such a huge event now and that is only good news for cancer research.
"Let’s go to the Expo for some free stuff!"
He caught me
The Expo had lots of options – although most were not quite what one might want to eat after a hard race!
Cotton candy
Chips, ice cream
I also saw some CAKE but never found its booth. I wouldn’t have wanted any anyways.
I just wanted water – and swiped a banana to save a few cents on groceries this week!
Matt handed me a mini coffee, but I had only had a few sips to warm up and passed it back to him
I checked out the Fuze samples but declined
Matt was following me around like the paparazzi!
Did taste a Strawberry Banana smoothie
And played yogurt. Why doesn’t Yoplait make YoPLAIN yogurt! I also ran into Whit’s Getting Fit!!
We walked about a mile through the expo and back to Jason’s car and arrived home to a spider!! (He was bigger than he looks!)
Matt made a cereal surprise [cereal + milk + peanut butter]
Around 10:30 my stomach growled loudly!
So I had some pie!!!! Topped with the IKEA graham crackers, it was so pie-like. LOVED the flavor!!!! I was afraid it would be too tangy-yogurty but it was perfect. Just like pumpkin mousse filling.
Was it worth getting up at 5AM on a Saturday for? You bet! Remind me of that next time.
There are already plans to sign up for this 5K put on by the Charlotte Airport on Halloween. The race is on the RUNWAY!! You want to know why I’m excited? Runways are flat 😉
We are gearing up for an exciting day at the Great Grapes Wine Festival, an annual event we’ve gone to every year since we’ve lived in Charlotte (even in a Hurricane once!!)
2007
2008
I am hoping to actually remember this year!! We’re meeting our friends for a lunchtime picnic beforehand!
Tammy says
You did great in the race!! Congrats! And I agree — love that pumpkin pie yogurt SO MUCH! Have a great weekend, Kath!
Courtney says
Awesome job on the race! I hope I can find that pumpkin pie yogurt near me.
My fave pic is you pointing the way to the expo! Cute!
Courtney
Adventures in Tri-ing
skinnyrunner says
even if you didnt PR, thats a great time for a hilly race and a great cause to support! i love getting free stuff at races even if i dont really like it…
Food Makes Fun Fuel says
Great time! And looks like fun was had by all. I’d say that’s a good day!
Sarah @ The Foodie Diaries says
You are the Yoplait Vanna White in that picture! And I always wonder why they don’t make plain! I love the texture of their thick and creamy, but it’s so sweet!
I also always wonder abotu those coffee/performance studies. I could really understand the link–though I think there’s always the risk of having it upset your stomach ;X
Congrats on a great time!
Elizabeth (The Dallas Celiac) says
Sounds like a fun day planned! Enjoy.
Congrats on the race. Big hills are hard!
Daria @ Daria Can Cook says
Congrats on a race well run!!
I love big post-race expos, but I really hate it when they’re stocked with junk. The last thing I ever want after a hard effort is prepackaged crap! At least there were bananas. 🙂
MelissaNibbles says
Congrats on the great race! Hills are tough. I wish race planners would take them into consideration more when plotting the course.
Enjoy your day!
Marisa (Trim The Fat) says
Great race, Kath! Congrats!!!
VeggieGirl says
Congratulations!!!
SPIDER!! **shivers**
Jenna says
good job on the run this morning! that pumpkin stonyfield looks great, i hope my caf at school will sell it!
jenna
Brynn says
Wow, great job Kath. You’ve gotten so fast! Junk food at after a race is so strange to me. Cotton Candy!?!
coco says
great job on the race! you and Matt rock!!! 😀
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
congrats on the race!
Diana says
You did great! Even with that horrible hill! 😉
Jen says
Yoplait doesn’t make plain yogurt b/c plain yogurt sucks. Period.
Tracey @ Tropical Happiness says
Wow, great job!! And I love the 5k-with-a-killer-hill PR! 🙂
Wendy says
Great race! Think positive – those hills will help make you faster for your next race. 🙂
Jamie in Arkansas says
Kath!
Congratulations!
You are not going to believe this…
I PR’d today at my 5K race with atime of
24:17!!!!! 🙂 How bizarre is THAT?? 🙂
We were in sync today!
Way to go girl!
Jamie
Leianna says
Congrats on your race!
I ran on the airport runway here in Minneapolis once, loved its flat surfaces and cool to run on a runway!
Abby says
Congrats on your race! Looks like it was fun 🙂
Lee says
That’s a great time! Have fun at the festival.
Lee says
That’s a great time! Have fun at the festival.
Leah says
I hate hill running too. Unfortunately, I live in an area where there is NO ESCAPE from hills what-so-ever.
Liz says
Great job at the race! You did awesome, even if that hill kicked your butt! From your last comment on the post, I’m guessing you’ve had a bit too much fun at that festival in the past? 😉
Rebecca says
Congrats! Glad you had a great time! Yay for flat Halloween races
Ashley says
When I was training for my 1/2 marathon, I had a hard time figuring out what was the best to eat before long runs. First, I realized I was eating [oatmeal] + drinking too close to when I was running. Then after running I was having major cramping terrible stomach pains for hours. I did a bunch of reading and found the best thing to eat before long runs or races is NO fiber – so, plain white bread, creamy pnut butter, and banana. All that fiber is are supposed to be really hard for your body to digest while funning and it diverts more energy to your stomach to aid in digestion. So the no fiber, easily digestible foods were definitely what worked for me. You probably already know all of this…but when I saw that flax and whole grain bread I was already in pain 😉 Good job on the race though!!! You were flying!! Sucks about the huge hill at the end!
Erica says
THANK YOU, KATH & MATT! Race for the Cure atmospheres are the BEST because it’s soooo many people uniting for a common goal…to finally find a CURE for breast cancer. I’m banking on that! So that one day my daughter, sisters, mom, aunts, and every other woman (and some men) will never have to endure the lifesaving treatments that I did because of people giving their time and money to find a cure!
Thank you again! You totally ROCKED it!!
sarah (ghost world) says
wow those are some SMOKIN’ first 2 miles!! esp mile 1 — wow! i definitely know the feeling of crashing in mile 3 — but at least you got 2 mile PR out of it!! congrats 🙂 next year hope to join you again!
Meghann says
Come to Florida, you’re guaranteed a flat course every time 🙂 You still did great. Rock on!!!
Biz says
Great run, even with hills! I hear you on that – where I used to live was flat as a pancake. When we moved to our new town 8 years ago, I entered a 5K and it was ALL HILLS! It totally makes a difference!
Ris says
Great race – I loved the recap, and LOL at the expo goodies, there’s one my dad runs every year with beer at the end!
Jenn (www. j3nn.net ) says
Congrats on the race! Your time is still awesome. 🙂 Kath, I admire your energy!! You guys make the Energizer bunny look like the turtle lol.
Jenn
Kate says
My husband has some neat software that can normalise your pace for hilly workouts! I bet if we put your data into that you’d have a “technical PR”!!
It does sound like it might be worth starting a little slower. Going from a 7:15 to a 7:35 in mile 2 is a bigger slowdown than is desirable. I personally think that 5k splits should be positive and that you should run them aggressively, but maybe you’d have had more for the hill if you’d run two 7:25s?
Good luck for the airport race. I have always wanted to do a runway race since I saw one on someone’s blog years back!
nicole says
Great job on the race!
I am a firm believer in all races are not created equal and just because the mileage is the same doesn’t mean the race will be! I think each race gets it’s own PR! 🙂
Meghan@traveleatlove says
I looooove wine festivals! Have to pace myself!
Jenna says
Awesome time Kath!
I love running Race for the Cure, such an amazing cause.
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
I need to try that yogurt. I’ve heard such good things about it, but haven’t found it yet 🙁
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
Congrats!
Erica says
congrats girly! Way to rock it!!! Yayyyyy for all the free samples
Rachael says
I am in shock to see all those weird post-run snacks they offered! It looks like the snacks at a county fair! So weird!
We don’t have Yoplait in Canada. I’ve tasted it a few times when I’ve visited the US and I think I liked it. Strange that they don’t make a plain flavour. I much prefer to sweeten my yogurt on my terms.
Your blog is my FAVOURITE blog. I’m addicted!
Lizzy says
Great job on that race girl! You tackled those hills like a champ! so proud of you! 🙂
Lori says
Congrats to you and Matt for great times! Hills are hard!
Madeline @ Greens and Jeans says
There is nothing like an uphill finish to make you want to puke/pass out! Congrats to you and Matt! Have fun at the wine festival!
Julie says
awesome job on your race!!
Eileen says
My post-kids 5K PR is 24:17. Hee!
It’s really none of my business, but I agree with the commenter who thought your breakfast might have been a bit fiber-heavy. I usually go with an English muffin with PB & J, and tea. Coffee makes me nervous before a race.
Very nice race, and I like your report. Gotta find that yogurt!
Peanut Butter bliss says
CONGRATS KATH!! wow 6 min mile!!?? i’ll get happy if I run a 9 minute mile during my half tomorrow!!
Jac says
congrats! you did great!
Wendy says
I just realized my 5K PR is very close to your time today – 24:16. Bet you like those numbers! 😉
Kath says
Thanks everyone!
Jamie + Wendy,
So cool! And Wendy, yes, I am so jealous of your 6!
Kath
Michelle (PinQue) says
Great job on the race! I missed the real race because of the lightrail and ended up running the non-comp one afterwards 🙁 I felt so much better reading your post/twitter, WTH was with the last .50 mile being uphill?!? It was like death!
Nicole says
I looked for the pumpkin pie yogurt today at Whole Foods, but no luck 🙁 I guess plain with my own pumpkin and spice mixed in will have to do for now.
MegaNerd says
Great job on the 5k! Hills make it much harder!
You and your pumpkin-flavored everything. 🙂
Marcia says
Kath, still that’s an awesome time. I cannot even fathom running a sub-8 anything. (Though truth be told, earlier this year I couldn’t fathom running a sub-9, either, but I did that on a 5k).
12/166 in your group is AWESOME!! The best I’ve hit is exactly in the middle, but I rationalize it by my age – when you hit your late 30’s, there just aren’t as many people running “for fun”, those ladies are serious!! Plus I’m at the upper end of the age bracket. 😉
You should be proud.
Chelsea says
It was fun to read your old posts and to see your reference to CK and calorie counting. You’ve come so far-it’s awesome.
Jess says
That’s an awesome time! Congrats on beating the hill and I agree – big hills shouldn’t be in 5ks!
I love anything pumpkin, I’ll have to check out that yogurt!