I ran another race this past Saturday. It was a 4-mile race in Central Park . Since last year, I believe I have run about a half dozen four mile races. They are all essentially the same, starting on the east side of the park, turning at 102nd Street, and then finishing the last half of the race on the west side.
This sounds easy enough, right? But people who are unfamiliar with Central Park have never experienced climbing up Cat Hill within the first mile of the course, which can make even the best and most seasoned runner winded. These same runners may hit a wall when they are confronted with a trio of rolling hills, starting shortly after the second mile marker and continuing for the duration of the course.
It is a tough course and not for someone looking for a nice, easy run. I have never run the entirety of these races, but I know I am making progress. My first 4-miler last year, I barely ran a quarter of the race. The last one before this Saturday, I ran most of the first half until the heat and humidity overcame me and I had to walk the last mile.
However, I have made tremendous progress in the last few weeks regarding my running and I tried to apply what I’ve learned so far to this race. Because I am a slow runner, I am always in the last corral, which is fine with me. However, unlike previous races, I waited until about 2 minutes before the race to get in line so there would be fewer people behind me.
I started the race slower than in past races, hoping to conserve my energy, as I knew the hills that were to come. First came the famous Cat Hill. I took my time getting up the hill. My breathing was labored, but as I was running up that hill, I watched as many people behind me stopped to walk up the hill. I kept going until I reached the top. I felt really good, not just getting up the hill without walking, but that I was now able to run down (my favorite part of getting to the top). Next I saw the 1-mile marker. My time was slower than in past races, but I really didn’t care. I was there to accomplish something no matter the time.
Then came the 2-mile marker. About a half hour after I crossed over the starting line, I was still running. It also helped that I had my new running water bottle with me, so I didn’t need to slow down or walk to get water and was able to have water when I needed it.
Shortly after the 2-mile marker came the first of the three hills on the second leg of the course. I started running up the hill, but I became winded half way up, so I walked the rest to catch my breath. When I reached near the top, I started running again. I began to feel a little pain on the side of my right knee, but I kept going as it usually stops hurting after a few minutes.
I ran up the second hill. It was hard and I was breathing heavy, but I made it up. I started to run up the third hill (past the third-mile marker), but I got a cramp in my side which then moved to my back. These cramps, when I get them, are so painful and literally take my breath away. I had to stop to walk for a few minutes until the pain subsided. I wish I knew why I get them during races, so I can do what I need to prevent them. Anyway, after a few minutes and the pain was gone, I picked up my pace and started running again. I felt good again and fully intended to run to the finish. When a volunteer said, “Quarter mile to go! Almost there!,” I was so excited, I think I started to sprint (at least my version, which still is SLLLOOOWWW).
I was straining to see the finish when I heard my name being yelled from the left side of the course. My Man was there cheering his face off for me. I couldn’t hear much of what he said, but smiled, waved and continued to the finish.
I always get very emotional when I run these races. I always get flashbacks of where I was before I started running. I look back at my very first 5k and how I could only run about 10 minutes of the entire course. Then I see all of these people, strangers, cheering for me. I literally got all choked up and started to cry. Of course I had to stop myself because (1) I can’t run if I can’t breathe, and (2) I don’t want to be splotchy or teary when in my finish line pictures (yes, it does matter). If I get so emotional now after a 4-miler, I can just imagine how I would be after running a marathon, which is my ultimate goal. I’m such a sap.
Anyway, I stopped choking up and focused on the last several feet to the finish line. I finished just shy of an hour. It was not my best time, but I really had a different goal for this race than I had for the others. In past races, I always wanted to PR, but I would always run fast (for me) and then tire out and need to walk. I really do think I am a faster walker than runner. This race, however, I wanted to see HOW MUCH of the race I could run. I ran at least three-quarters of the race, which is definitely more than I’ve run in any race to date.
I know on paper, it doesn’t seem like much, but I accomplished quite a bit in this race: I tackled Cat Hill, I ran more and farther in any race so far, and I still managed to finish in under an hour and a sub 15-minute mile. My next goal is to run the entire 4-miler. This may take a while as I don’t think there are any 4-milers available for a while. But I will just keep training so I can be ready for those hills next time.
No comments:
Post a Comment