Yesterday I ran the Big Peach 5k in Atlanta. This was my first race since I have decided to train for the half marathon, and my second 5k ever. I don't have an official time because the timer fell off of my shoe. Based on my own watch, my time was about the same as it was at my first 5k. Of course, I wanted my time to be better - at least ten minutes better. Over the past few months as I have been training, I know that I'm definitely becoming a better runner. I can run almost three times as long as I could in January. About a month ago I started thinking "this 5k is going to be easy breezy." I figured, I've done this once and I now I'm a better runner, so I'm going to just blow it out of the water with little effort.
I guess it was a combination of that attitude, at lots of traveling, and a gym only open from 9am - 5pm all combined to make me not push myself very hard the past few weeks. Part of me wonders if I was sabotaging myself because I do feel on some levels that I will fail at this half marathon. Is failing earlier easier, instead of getting closer to my goal and then failing? I don't know. I do know that the feeling of disappointment in myself that I felt yesterday is not something I'm a huge fan of. Running a race is not like writing a paper, or taking a test, or making a presentation. In those situations, quick thinking and your brain can compensate somewhat for lack of preparedness. No amount of smarts or quick thinking can compensate for lack of preparedness during a race. There are very few things that you can hide behind when your out of breath and your calves are burning.
Getting to the race yesterday started out stressful. I originally gave myself plenty of time to drive to the Marta station and then ride the short distance to the race. That was all well and good until I got on the wrong train and rode about 15 minutes on the wrong line. I turned around and rode back to the original station so that I could get on the right train. I still had a decent amount of time until the race...and then the Marta train stopped and we were told it was out of service. So I got off that train, and waited for a new one. I did eventually get to the starting line about six minutes before the race started. I had planned to be there an hour early. Thankfully, my friends were able to get my race number for me or else I definitely would not have started on time!!
Mile one started out well. I felt good, and really wasn't winded until the end of the mile. I stopped to walk once to fix my race bib which I had pinned on poorly in my haste and was scratching my stomach. Mile two started to get hilly, and I starting running the flat portions and walking the uphill portions. At about 1.75 miles, my right foot started tingling and then fell completely asleep. I stopped and relaced my shoes, which didn't help. I stopped again and took my foot out of my shoe to let it regain circulation. Also didn't work. I walked for a while with my shoes untied. By that time, my left foot had fallen asleep. Begrudingly, I had to walk the last half of the 5k.
I'm mad at myself about the feet because I think it happened because I had slacked off in my training over the last few weeks. My feet would fall asleep when I first started running, but as I started being more consistent (and better) in my running, it happened less and less. If I had been better and more diligent the past few weeks, I don't think my feet would have fallen asleep yesterday.
Moral of the story: I need to work harder and train harder. Simple as that.
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