I didn't PR and I have a completely different list of reasons why.
- I got up this morning to a completely defunct Garmin. Like fried or something. RIP good buddy. (Totally a first world problem that it was so devastating to me.)
- 10 yards into the race my shoe came untied, I stopped to tie my shoe and my phone with a crappy gps timer on it that I couldn't read while running anyway came flying out of my bra and the battery popped out.
- I spent the next couple minutes getting my phone fired up and trying to get the gps system back up, but it was impossible while running, so I decided to just forget it and run naked.
- This was all before the first mile, which was also the only mile marked.
- Yup none of the other miles were marked I had no idea how far I was running to at least help gauge my pace.
- No water along the course after the first mile.
- I forgot I meant to eat my GU 15 minutes before the race and instead ate it sometime after the first mile WITH NO WATER! I always wash them down with water.
I finished in 35:50 which is fabulous but I KNEW it was not right. I am pretty fast but I did not run a 10k with 5:48 min/mile pace.
I discovered while talking to other disgruntled runners that I along with about half the 10k racers, missed a turn and only ran about 5 miles. Other racers just got lost and ran a lot extra. There was a key corner they should have had someone directing runners at apparently.
I went and disqualified myself, especially when I saw I was the first girl in and I knew there was a girl who had been ahead of me, but finished after me. She said the only reason she ran the right was was because she was in the lead and she was following the biker leading the race. Apparently even he was confused about the route though.
It would have been close to a PR but that will have to be for another day!
Bummer.
Here is why I think I could have got a PR
- I felt strong.
- I averaged about a 7:10 pace which would barely have pulled a PR.
- I ran with ZERO hip pain for the first time in ..? about a month I think. ZERO
Alright enough excuses already. But I am bummed about the race, I felt a little like a cheater. At least I wasn't the only one, I was just following the guy in front of me.
My incredible amazing parents went in halfsies with me on a new Garmin. I could have ordered it off the internet but I wanted instant gratification after that race so I drove all over Billings trying to find a place that was open and sold them on a Sunday.
Done.
Meet my new buddy, she is just getting charged up to take our first run together tomorrow. I think I will name this one, I just haven't thought of the right name yet.
Also got my reward from GU for the Strava challenge I participated in. An 8 pack of the peanut butter GU (my favorite) and a sampler pack.
Have you ever cut a course short?
I felt a little like a cheater, but at I wasn't alone.
Sounds like they definitely needed someone at that turn. Well, sounds like there were a serious of mishaps but I'm sure you'll kill it at the next 10k!
ReplyDeleteThat's awful about the course not being well-marked! I'm always afraid that I'm not running the right way when I do races with multiple distances. Definitely not your fault. Sounds like you still had pretty decent race regardless, and now you're ready for the next one, right?
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear what you think about your new Garmin after you've used it a bit. The Forerunner 210 with the teal accents is the one I've been looking at but I haven't managed to man up enough to buy it for myself.
You totally could have PR'ed had you not been faced with excessive catastrophes AND major course issues! Next time, for sure! Way to roll with the curveballs, though :)
ReplyDeleteYesterday I ran a trail race and I am still not convinced it was a full half marathon - but it's hard to tell with a Garmin not getting signal the whole time. It sounds like you had a fast race even with all the drama/GPS problems!
ReplyDeleteWow, what a bummer. I once ran a short 5K (actually 2.9mi) but everyone ran the wrong course. Later on, the group putting on the race (the local Y) sent an email saying the race was short due to construction (the race was at the zoo) but acted like it was no big deal. I guess if we all ran the same wrong course, at least the awards would be accurate. It was still a bummer since I was on track to PR.
ReplyDeleteYou are so not a cheater. What a pain! You'll get that 10K PR next time, I'm sure of it. And hey, a new Garmin isn't a bad consolation prize....
ReplyDeleteYou're an awesome runner and definitely don't need to make any excuses whatsoever! I am thinking it was a small race and sometimes they can be a little unorganized and lead to these kinds of mishaps! You ran a great race so who really cares :)
ReplyDeleteyikes! that race sounds like it had a lot of hiccups. You'll get that PR soon, I'm sure of it. I like the fancy new garmin :)
ReplyDeleteI ran a 5K in February, and EVERYONE at the end said the course was short. At first I thought it was just my GPS or I cut something short somewhere, but nope. The course was just short, plain and simple. Sorry you had so many issues yesterday!
ReplyDeleteThat's a lot to happen in one race! But now you have all that out of the way and your next race will be smooth and you will have your PR
ReplyDeleteThat is so frustrating!! I think one of the MOST important things a race can do, above all, is have the course CLEARLY marked! I am glad that you had no pain, though- that is always a great thing.
ReplyDeleteI volunteered at a marathon/half marathon yesterday where half of the people made the wrong turn. It was AWFUL for those runners.
Yes! I cut a 15k trail race short with a couple dozen other runners! The course was not well marked at a cross roads section. We were near the front, too (maybe 15-20 others in front of us). We thought about turning back and heading around the correct way, but decided to hoof it in and DQ ourselves. Oh well! I wouldn't consider it cheating! Sounds like a poorly run race overall!!
ReplyDeleteName for the Garmin? I just erased a bunch (why did I say erase...)...I couldn't think of anything good :)
Yikes! I don't think you are making excuses at all-- those are legit reasons and mistakes, especially mistakes on behalf of the race directors. Oy vey, what a mess!
ReplyDeleteSorry it didn't go well. Not your fault at all though. Glad you got a new Garmin:) she's pretty!
ReplyDeleteNone of those things that happened was your fault. Sometimes sh&$! just happens. Great effort. Shake it off and enjoy your new Garmin.
ReplyDeleteOh no, I can't believe all of this!!!! The race recap I posted today boasted a lot of volunteers, but there was one corner with no one there (other spots had multiple people) and the only reason I knew to turn was because of the person in front of me. That is so bad!!!! But yay for your parents and yay for a new Garmin - so much less clunky than mine!
ReplyDeleteWell that stinks about the course not being well marked. No doubt you'll get that 10k PR next time. Enjoy your new Garmin!
ReplyDeleteWhat a bummer about the course! At least you were kind enough to DQ yourself since that other woman would have been first. The race really should make up for it somehow!
ReplyDeleteNice new Garmin! I've tried the GU Brew. One tip - don't use it at a race in a bottle. It is fizzy. They had it at the last half I did and I didn't take it because I didn't care for it. A lot of people complained about it.
Sounds like a slightly disorganized race and hopefully they plan better for next year. That is alot of things that tripped you up, I don't know if I would have stayed strong after all that!!
ReplyDeleteOh Christy, I would have died if my Garmin had died during a race. It's sad, but I really am truly dependent on that darn thing to figure out what pace I'm going. Like what if my Garmin died during a marathon, that'd be absolutely horrible.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I am so sorry that you had to deal with a messed up, unmarked course, there is NO way that you could have known about it while running. How frustrating!! But I suppose you could count this as some speedwork?! SO happy about the zero hip pain too!!
Oh, man! That's a rough day! Sorry you had so much trouble. A lot of races did today it seems! (Google Cellcom Green Bay marathon and read the notes from our local race... Yowza!)
ReplyDeleteSarah
www.thinfluenced.com
i don't think you should feel like a cheater at all, i think if i were you i'd feel cheated. you pay money to run a race it should be marked and supplied! LOVE your new garmin!
ReplyDeleteUgg bummer day.
ReplyDeleteYou should not feel like a cheater. You know in your heart you would never ever intentionally cut a course.
Bad race markings does not make you a cheater.
Lets hear a big YIPPEE for a new garmin and no hip pain.
*high five*
Holy crap. That is the worst. It's like everything that could go wrong, did. At least you didn't get sick on top of it all!
ReplyDeleteLet us know what you think of the new Garmin. Mine is driving me insane and I'm really thinking about getting a new one.
Sorry you had all that crap happen to you. I know you would of PR in that race. Your fast. Would love to know how you like the pb gu. I am obsessed with peanut butter. Love your new Garmin. I dont know how I ran for so long with out one myself. Love my garmin. I like instant gratification to.
ReplyDeleteUgh that first mile would have sent me over the edge!! Technology always has a way of getting funky right when I need it! I hope you enjoy your new Garmin! I know you'll get that pr very soon!!
ReplyDeleteUgh that sucks about the confusing route. They should definitely mark it better in the future! I've been having some trouble with my Garmin and am looking at the different models. I'm hoping to get one for my birthday. I like GU brew... the lemon lime is good and the orange. I have not and will not try the peach!
ReplyDeleteMan how dang frustrating. Wow the combination of everything that went wrong is just insane. At least it wasn't your marathon though. Silver lining right? hehe
ReplyDeleteMy Garmin would not turn on at UV marathon last year and it was awful but also probably one of the best things that ever happened to me because it taught me to pace naturally. All in all you still got a great workout in and a new garmin. Yay!
Oh man! So much frustration so quickly. Glad you made it through.
ReplyDeleteI have the 210 - LOVE IT!!!
What a crazy race day! Shoes coming untied are such a pet peeve to me. And no markings? Seriously? My worst race experience was a 1/2 that there were no port a potties at the beginning. (It was their first year, they ordered them, they just didn't show up.) And the finish line was kitchen chairs lined up with construction tape. Lame.
ReplyDeleteI've never cut a course short, but I did have that half marathon that was a mile short. I felt like a cheater a little too :)
ReplyDeleteYou shouldnt feel like a cheater- it was clearly the races fault for having an ambiguous course. You are certainly no Rosie Ruiz! :)
ReplyDeleteGosh, if my garmin died I'd probably freak the heck out during a race- but at the same time I might embrace running "naked." Congrats on a great time in a 5 mile race!
Awww, maaaan!!! I would have been so pissed!
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you had quite the race Christy. I would have died if my garmin stopped. I panic when it has a low battery during a workout. I don't know what I would do if it was in a race!
ReplyDeleteI really hate to hear that about the course and about your Garmin dying. Seems like there should have been someone doing a better job directing runners. Your new Garmin looks really nice!
ReplyDelete