Race Recap: Boo! Run for Life 10k

Yesterday’s Boo! Run for Life 10k was AWESOME. After last weekend’s great Army Ten Miler, I was feeling so refreshed and renewed in my love for running, and yesterday’s race only furthered that sentiment. Not only did I make my goal of PRing, I CRUSHED it.

My goal was to finish the 10k in an under an hour, which had been my goal during my last 10k in December 2009. I crossed the finish line of that race thinking I had made my goal, only to find out I had finished in 60:01. Still a great time for me, but what a pesky little second!

The funny thing is, I seriously considered not getting out of bed to run yesterday. I was feeling so tired when my alarm went off because I stayed up too late putzing around on my computer, but I was finally able to convince myself out around 6:45am and I am SO glad that I did.

I (very quickly) got dressed…

Prepped my standard pre-race meal.

And was out the door by a few minutes after 7. Whew!

I decided to bike to the start line, which was about 3 miles from my apartment. It was definitely the best option because not only did it wake me up on the ride and get some fresh air in my system, but it was also the fastest way and it was FREE. I arrived in under 15 minutes and easily found a place to lock up my bike.

Compared to last weekend’s race of 30,000 people, this one seemed TINY.

There were just under 600 runners, so it was still a good size, but it’s all relative. I was able to breeze through registration, use the bathroom, and check my bags within just a few minutes. Since the race was to started right at 8:00am, I headed over to the start line a few minutes before 8, and before I knew it we were off!

Because the race was so much smaller than last week, it was a lot easier to start off at about the speed I wanted to. I knew I was going fast, but I didn’t know how much the little bit of weaving I was doing would slow me down. When my Garmin beeped after the first mile, I looked down and couldn’t believe it – 8:52!! Seeing that low number put an extra pep in my step and I was able to maintain a pretty quick pace during the entire race.

I know a lot of people are into negative splits with races, which means you try to run the second half of your race faster than the first half, but for some reason that does not work with me. Running is so mental, and when I go slower at the beginning I put so much unnecessary pressure on myself to go faster at the end, that it takes the joy out of racing. I prefer to keep it quick at the beginning so there is LESS pressure for me at the end, and then I usually end up going faster at the end anyways since there’s less pressure, if that makes sense. It probably doesn’t but at least I know what I mean.

Anyways, my energy stayed pretty level during the entire 6.2 miles, so I didn’t need to fuel during the run at all. I did end up getting water at all three water stops along the way, but kept moving rather than walking through the stations. I knew I was on track to PR, so I just kept telling myself I had a sub 1 hour 10k in me and to keep pushing. And you know what? It worked!

Here was the final breakdown:

• Mile 1: 8:52
• Mile 2: 8:52
• Mile 3: 8:56
• Mile 4: 9:00
• Mile 5: 9:04
• Mile 6: 8:57
• Mile .25: 7:55 (!!!!)

When my eyes caught a glimpse of the finish line, I seriously booked it. I passed several runners in that last quarter mile and could not BELIEVE I was seeing 55 minutes on the clock as I approached. I can’t even explain the rush of emotion that overcame me as I crossed under the flag at the finish.

My official time was quicker than my Garmin – 55:37 – which means 8:57 average pace. Me! Running sub 9:00 miles! For 6 miles straight. I honestly can’t believe it. That is insanely fast for me, and I am so proud that I was able to finish it so quickly.

The feeling of conquering your goals during a race, whether it be just to cross that finish line or to achieve a certain time or personal record, is seriously unparalleled. I was elated.

I ran this exact same race two years ago, and my time was 61:08. While still a very respectable time, in two years, I managed to shave 5 minutes and 31 seconds off my time, which is almost a mile a minute.

I walked away from this one so proud.