Post 11 - 10K Trail Race

I am not sure why I did not listen to the logical answer coming from my brain "Don't do it", and went with the meek "Yes you can" coming from my heart....

On Sunday, I ran a very tough 10K trail race, organized by Intel. On a very chilly day (which is perfect for long runs), the course took us through the Folsom Prison grounds, giving us a chance to peek into a side of Folsom we never get to see. The course was hilly, with constant ups and downs, taking us through streams and bridges, through bushes and trees. It was single track all the way. It kicked my butt, to say the least :).

Towards the very end, I stepped on a small rock on the trail and fell down, hard. My left knee got bruised, but I was able to finish strong. I also got a bad blister on my right toe during the run, but it was not painful while I was running. Both were minor injuries and I'm well on my way to being healed now!

Here's what I learnt:

:: If you sign up for a race, please train for it. You could get injured badly if you don't, and pay for your mistake for years to come. {In my case: I have been running on and off since the beginning of this year, hence I had the courage to go ahead with this race. Earlier this week, I also did a couple of strength training workouts at the Intel gym, and figured I should be able to hack it.}

:: Eat well, hydrate well, sleep well - the day before the race. {I stayed up until 2.30am to pack for my upcoming vacation. I also skipped dinner (sigh) and was snacking on junk while packing. The only thing I did was hydrate well.}

:: Plan your outfit and lay it out on the bed the night before. Also plan your morning breakfast well, and pack snacks/water for the race if needed. Charge your ipod/phone and keep headphones with your outfit. {Can you believe that I did all these things? YAY ME!}.

:: Take a shower a couple of hours before the race to warm up your muscles. And stretch using a foam roller. {I showered at 2.30am before going to bed instead. And foam roller is my best friend - I used it before and after}.

:: Don't be indecisive until the last minute. {I showed up at the venue thinking I will change my run to a 5K. But when I went to pick up my BIB, I saw that my number was the last 4 digits of my cell phone. It made me smile, and gave me a nudge that this is meant to be. So I stuck with my original plan.}

:: Once you start running, leave all worries behind and just have fun. {Which is what I precisely did}.

:: A running group helps. A lot. Train with one. They will support you and inspire you all the way. I'm proud to be associated with Runnin' for Rhett and they were there with me, before and after the race.

I have another 5K race this Saturday - this time the whole family plans to do it - let's see how it goes :)! Wish us luck!

My first race

Northern California was in the middle of a much needed rainstorm last weekend. Not a soul around me was complaining about the weather. We desperately needed the precipitation. 

However, I was hoping for a short weather break on Sunday. I had signed up for my first ever race, and the prospect of running a 10K race while being soaked through and through was daunting. 

Race Day: I woke up at 5.30am, got ready, had breakfast, and set off with my friend A. As we kept getting closer to our destination, the intensity of the rainfall kept on increasing. 

We made it to our destination, safe and sound, and I got a call from the husband who had hoped I'd bail out and stay cozy in bed with him :). I assured him I would be okay and proceeded to meet my team and trainers.

We had a great warmup session - ran about a mile, but more importantly, figured out that running with a rain jacket or any other accessories was a terrible idea. I went back to our tent and unloaded all the gear.

Race Start: There were hundreds of runners. It had just stopped raining. We were at the bottom of the pack. We started slowly, and it felt great to be finally running an official race. My running group was there with me, and I had all the support I needed to get me to the finish line. 

The shins on my left leg have been bothering me (my trainer says I got shin splints), so I had decided to take it easy, and had kept a goal of just finishing the race. I started slow, and took my time to warm up. I took a few walking breaks in the beginning but as I hit my stride around mile 2, I was running more and walking less. 

The course was new for me, and I did not have any expectations from it, but it turned out to be very pretty. We ran along some cute little neighborhoods - the homes had lovely gardens and flowers blooming, we saw lots of orange trees with the fruits slowly ripening, we passed through a park with some creeks and bridges, and because of the continuous rain, we could enjoy the refreshing smell of earth throughout our run.

I felt strong, and had a really strong finish. I completed the 10K with a pace of about 13 minutes a mile. I could have gone much faster but I'm glad I took the time to slow down and soak in the entire experience. 

As soon as we headed back to the tent from the finish line, it started drizzling again :).

From start to finish, there was not a drop of rain that we had to deal with. It was an amazing blessing, as if it was just meant to be. 

My fitness level has improved SO much in the last 6 weeks. I have dropped 2 pant sizes, and I feel energetic throughout the week. Every single run is helping me improve my cardiovascular fitness. I remember breathing so heavily during the first couple weeks of this training program. I was terribly out of shape. Now, I run with ease and can carry a conversation easily even on a long run. I know how to keep hydrated and fueled up for long runs, and have learnt a lot about my body in this short time. 

Having run about 7 miles so far, I now move to longer runs - 8 miles, 10+ miles, in the next month before I run my first half-marathon in March. I am excited, and looking forward to it. 

However, I don't think I am cut out to be a long distance runner. 10K is a sweet spot for me - not too short, not too long, and enough to get a good workout. I might train for that distance and work on speed once I have achieved my half marathon goal. I also don't want to injure myself by regularly running long distances, and I worry about my knees as well. But running is fun, and an easy activity to plan for, so I will find some way to incorporate a little bit on running into my daily life.

Here are a couple of post race pictures with my trainer and running group....I am sporting my first finisher's medal :)!