My very first race report ever.. (Read 714 times)

I had my 10mile race this morning. Woke up feeling VERY anxious, could barely choke back a few bites of a cliff bar and drank some coffee.. Since the race is right out my back door I just walked up with my family. I did a warm-up with some striders as well as stretching. My mom and I walked up to get our packet and bibs. I did not bring my Ipod with me as the race said no headphones, but when I got there about 30% of the people had them. My husband went back home to get the camera and I told him to grab my headphones as well. We found our way to the start and I decided that I was not going to use my headphones and just absorb the atmosphere. My mom told me to run my own race and focus on me and not her (after all she is the marathon runner). As much as I told myself to not go out fast, I still managed to not go out as slow as I intended to as I got caught up in the moment (dammit). It took me about 3 miles before I could relax (but not enough to loosen my shoulders up-ouch). I ran the course last weekend so I knew what to expect and when. I ended up walking 3 seperate times at about a minute a clip because my knee. I don't think I wrapped them tight enough. I ran with my mom for the most part then I gradually fell about 30 second behind her and then ended up coming in about 2 minutes behind her. The course is a bitch, it really is, it is very rolling with a couple of doozy hills with one being in the last mile (which I felt prepared for because I have run that hill plenty of times)for some reason it kicked my butt today. My time was 1:46:45, which I don't think was all that bad for my first "Official Race". I can only build from here. I made a few key mistakes I feel (not eating prior, starting too fast and not taping my knee tight enough). My goal was to finish, but I was able to go faster than I had thought I would. All in all, it was a good experience. This also was my first run EVER without my Ipod, I cant help but wonder if that played into the factor, I know a few times I thought.."If I had my music I could pump it up right about here". My husband surprised me with framing my bib # along with a picture of me crossing the finish line! My 10 year old met up with me when I had about .25 mile to go with a towel and ran next to me on the sidewalk cheering me on. Since we live in the area my husband and kids as well as my mothers husband met us at different points on intersecting sideroads to cheer us on as well. I tell you, it really does help to have people cheering you on. So, that was it.

Excellent result, good job! I like the ipod for zoning out on long training runs. For an actual race I would think it better to stay focused on running. 1:46 is a great time, Congrats again.

Hey, that's wonderful! You rocked that race. I'm impressed that you picked a 10-miler for your very first race! A 5k will be anticlimactic after that. It's cool that you ran it with your mom - I hope my daughter can say that when she's your age!

Great job. The great thing about racing is that you learn (hopefully) what you need to do to be better the next time.

Thanks guys! You all really helped me accomplish this with your advice and tips. I have learned so much in the short time that I have been here. Upward and onward. I'm gonna rest today and then back to building my base up some more. I don't have anything else planned for right now, I have to take a look around and see what there is. The next things on my agenda don't come until September or so.

Awesome first race! And now you share an addiction with a lot of us here.

Way to go Denise, This was a pretty big chunk you bit off for your first one alright. Congratulations!

Nicely done, run and report, DM23 On the food, I'd experiment with a gel (maybe caffeinated) before the race and maybe one in the middle for this distance. I'm not an expert, just a thought. jjj