Wildcat 5K Trail - Race Report

Saturday morning, the day of the race, was super-duper cold and windy in my neck of the woods. Being the genius that I am, I figured it would probably also be super-duper cold and windy 40 minutes away, where the race was being held and decided to wear my nice warm jacket to race in. Since the jacket had pockets, I figured I wouldn't need my armband for my iPod.

I got to Steph's house at 7 am, 15 minutes earlier than when I was supposed to, since our friend, Kristi, would be driving us. I looked around my car and realized I forgot my bib at home! Good thing I only live 5 minutes away. A quick drive back home and back again to Steph's made everything better. I had called my husband when I didn't see my bib to see if he could grab my bib and meet me outside to save time, but he never answered. I guess I forgot to hang up, because he played my message for me later, and it was of just me laughing. He thought I was crazy.

We got there around 8, just in time to see the half-marathon runners take off. The 5K would start until 8:45.

Me, Steph and Kristi before the race. As you can see, I am the only dummy with a jacket.

Since it was not cold and not windy, I made the wise decision to run without my jacket and shoved in it with Steph and Kristi's stuff at the bag check. Of course, this meant I would have to run with my iPod in my hand.

While all the 5K folks started gathering at the start, the race director told us that this is one of their hardest 5K's. Aw, how wonderful!

And we're off.

They told us to watch out for potholes, which is why you'll see everyone looking down. It would be no fun to break an ankle at the start of your race. They also told us to remember this warning on our way back since it was an out and back course. No one wants a face-plant photo of their race finish.

 

The course bottle-necked us all through a small gate, and then the hill started. Sigh.

Kristi is seven kinds of fit! She's a personal trainer and teaches like a million different classes at several gyms. And that's not even her real job! This lady kicks ass. I was only able to hang with her for about the first ten feet of the race before she waved to me and flew off.

 

Okay, I know I'm short, but this is just ridiculous!

 

This must have been the start of the hill. My plan was to run up as much as I could at a decent pace, and then when I got tired to just walk.

I know it looks like I'm walking, but really, I'm running.

The first mile was all uphill, horrible torturous steep uphill. Every now and then when it wasn't as steep I would run.

Woo-hoo! The 1 Mile mark, meaning soon it would downhill for about a half mile, before the turnaround point.

I remember running down the hill and being absolutely miserable. I was hot and the terrain was uneven and my ankles were hurting from all the abuse. I like running down hills, but your body sure does take a pounding. I saw Kristi running back up the hill on her way back and wondered how far I was from the turnaround point. It wasn't far, thank God! And before I knew I was making my way back up the hill, too.

I maybe ran about 10 feet up the hill, before I thought, "Fuck this!" and just walked. It was tough! But I walked as fast as I could even though I wanted to stop and rest. I told myself I was just walking. Who needs a fuckin' walking break, right?

I saw the photog at the top of the hill and made no pretense whatsoever to run for the camera. I was tired! Yes, from walking. You see the gorgeous view behind me? Yeah, you gotta be freakin pretty high up for a view like that. And I just walked up that much. No running at this point for this chica. Lemme catch my breath first.

 

I see how this is one of their toughest 5K's.

The last mile was all downhill, and I was able to pass a few folks. I guess some people didn't want to twist their ankles or tumble down the hill. Not this reckless girl! I will run down a hill with absolute abandon. Two kids passed me, though. I guess me and kids don't give consequences a second thought.

 

One of the kids who passed me. However, I actually placed faster than him in the results according to chip time. He must have started at the front. And yes, I just spent some time arguing how I am faster than a child. (By the way, a freakin 10 year old girl placed third female! I am still amazed at this child. I was talking to her at the medals table. Her fastest 5K is 25 minutes! And she's only 10! I told her I was going to watch out for her when she's older. Kara Goucher in the making!)

Towards the finish, I felt someone trying to sprint past me. WTF? Oh, yeah, this is a race. So I started my kick (because I had just planned on cruising through the finish line) and picked up my feet. Me and homeboy crossed the finish at the same time. However, again, I officially had a faster chip time. Hehe.

I guess he must have been pacing me the entire time as he was also by me in the earlier pics.

39:33. 12:45 average pace. 1/7 in my age group! 30/100 overall.

Splits according to my garmin:

Mile 1: 14:29

Mile 2: 12:05

Mile 3: 11:16

Last tenth or so: 9:26 pace

Yeah, sounds pretty slow, but those hills were brutal!

Our bad-asses after the race. Steph got third in her age group, and this was being sick as a dog all morning. Kristi got first in hers, as did I.

This race taught me that races are just that - races. And perhaps I should do more than just cruise.