Yesterday I did something that I never thought in a million years I would do – I ran more than a 5k BEFORE running a race. The Boo! Run for Life holds a special place to me because it was actually my first ever 10k in 20 and my 10k PR in 2011 (before last weekend’s 10k), so when I got an email about it again this year, I signed up immediately.
I had 9 miles on my half marathon training schedule for this past weekend, and since I’d already signed up for the 10k, I decided to just run the extra distance before the race since I knew I would not be interested in running more after the race, and so yesterday marks the day I turned into a crazy runner, in my book anyway.
Per usual, I set up my race gear the night before, including a Peanut Butter GU which I’d never tried before. It was alright, but I still favor Vanilla Bean.
This time I decided to do the run to the race site with a light backpack so I could bring something to change into after the race because I knew I’d be sweaty after clocking in 9+ miles. I got all geared up
Self portrait #2340872349898 taken in my bathroom.
And knotted the backpack around my chest so it wouldn’t bounce around:
And it actually worked out great.
Creepy.
I ate my standard pre-race breakfast:
A toasted english muffin with banana and chocolate peanut butter with some coffee on the side, and then was out the door.
I’d mapped out a route to run before the race of about 3 miles, and I can say that those were the worst 3 miles I’d run in a while. I was out to dinner the night before for a friend’s birthday, and while I only had a couple glasses of wine, it turns out oysters aren’t the best pre-race dinner. That’s all I’ll say about that but my stomach was not feeling the best.
- Mile 1: 9:09
- Mile 2: 9:08
- Mile 3: 9:05
Before too long though, I was at the race site so I got to stop running while I waited for the race to start.
I picked up my bib
Checked my bag, and then met up with one of my best friend’s Lianne who was also running the 10k.
Before long, we were lining up at the start line and the gun went off!
The first mile or two was tough because I didn’t really know how to time fueling since I’d run 3 miles, then waited around for 40 minutes before starting again. It was also cold and windy and my body was confused why I was making it run again so soon right after I’d stopped.
- Mile 4: 8:43
- Mile 5: 8:40
I decided to take a GU after 2 miles of the race (which was 5 miles into my total run) and it worked out perfectly because there happened to be a water stop right after. The GU definetly picked me up a bit and miles 6-7 were pretty uneventful.
- Mile 6: 8:56 (included walking through the water stop)
- Mile 7: 8:29
Once I passed the 7 mile mark (which was mile 4 of the 10k) I got kind of annoyed with the signs that marked the miles. Obviously that is completely illogical, but I just wanted to shout IT’S NOT MILE 5 IT’S MILE 8 FOR ME! But, I resisted. The next 1.5 miles went by pretty uneventfully, but once I was around mile 5.5 of the race it was HARD. I kept looking for the Mile 6 sign and it came way later than I was hoping, and of course the finish line was much further after the 6 mile mark than it should have been.
But eventually, I made it.
- Mile 8: 9:01
- Mile 9: 8:43
Crossing that finish line felt SO good.
I’m still awaiting my official 10k time and will update it when I have it, but I think it was around 56 – 57 minutes, so a bit slower than last week, which was to be expected.
Even though the run was frustrating in some ways, I will say it was pretty awesome breaking down a long run like that. The 3 mile pre-race felt like no big deal since I’ve been running so much lately, and then the last 6 of the 9 miler was part of a 10k so there were tons of people around and cheering and adrenaline. It was also awesome to have a timeframe in place since the race started at 8, so I was done with 9 miles by 9am, which I definitely wouldn’t have been if I was just running it on my own! It also just made the distance feel more manageable, and it’s something I won’t rule out doing again if it works in my schedule!
How do you define a crazy runner? Have you ever run extra before or after a race to meet mileage goals? Would you?
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{ 16 comments… read them below or add one }
i am a walker, not a runner. i always love after a 5k hearing the runners say – “hey – there’s an eight mile trail over here – wanna run?” or the ones that run the course immediately before the race to check it out!
Where did you get your visor? I love it!
Aww thanks! I got it in Amazon. Here’s a link: http://tinyurl.com/93nbuds
I did that 10k this weekend too! Nice weather for it
good job, you are going to ace your half!!
I did that not too long ago myself! I had a 5 mile race, but needed to run 8 that weekend, so I ran 3 before the race started and still managed to have enough in the tank to PR that course! It was a pretty bad-ass feeling. Way to get it done!
I’ve ran extra after a race to hit a goal. Which can be hard- especially if you really “raced” the race…
Good work on the run!
I clocked in extra miles before my last 10k too!
Though I totally forgot about that whole refueling thing because I had divided the distance in my mind, so the last few were definitely rough.
I’ve heard of other runners running before a race and I always think that it’s crazy… so this is my definition of “Crazy runners” too
Great Job!
I would be perfectly ok being defined as a Crazy Runner lol
We ran to the race and our splits were nowhere near as good as yours. Our times kept increasing each mile. Way to keep up your pace.
Haha, I’d def consider myself a crazy runner if I ran before a race! Crazy in an awesome way
I’ve actually read a few blogs lately that people are doing this more often for similar reasons to what you said- short “pre-race run” and during the race your powered by adrenaline…
I did nine miles this weekend too! And broke them up too! (Did a five mile race, then did a four mile hilly run, then a one mile cool down.) It was hard in some ways to not just run consecutively, but I think I was a lot less sore the next day because of it.
How do you increase your speed? I ran my nine at an average of 12 minute miles, and would love to work on speed in the next year.
I’m loving that running outfit! You’re officially one of those hot girls at the gym I envy/curse behind your back
I love your race recaps! I guess I used to think that anyone who runs is crazy. But now that I’ve got a few 5ks under my belt and have signed up for my first 5-mile, I think I’m crazy. I’ve heard of people running before their races to get their miles in, so I don’t think that’s so crazy. But way to go!
Very creative and impressive way to break up a long run! Nice job!
I recently ran a 10K race after running an “8-mile warm-up” (I had a 14-mile training run scheduled that day). I know what you mean about the mile markers! I kept wanting to shout to everyone, “I’m normally faster than this, but I just ran 8 miles before the race!” Not that anyone would care
Yes Beth, you are officially crazy! I’m not a real runner (just a fat guy trying to lose weight), but to me your time was great! When I ran 6.2 miles around my neighborhood one day, it took about 86 minutes to do!