This is the race I have a love/hate relationship with. I love the atmosphere and the distance is a 12k, so a shorter race for me. It’s the course I dread. Lots of hills and if it’s hot, well it’s hot.
Add pregnancy to the mix and this year was one of those “hate” years. It was toasty and my body just didn’t want to race. It’s hard not being able to go as fast as you would like. Sometimes it’s hard for me to mentally tell my body “slow down.” My mind wants to keep intensity but my body said “hold up!!”
So this year wasn’t a PR and I think baby boy enjoyed himself more than I did. He felt like a bowling ball and there’s more pressure than I would like at 22 weeks. Even though I haven’t gained much, he feels heavy. To the point that I have purchased belly support bands.
It was full sun race morning, no clouds and really no cool breeze. I tried not to let the temps physc me out. It’s hard to regulate body temperature when pregnant and by mile 4 of the race I was feeling the heat. Already the hills were getting to me, which was weird since I ran a hilly half marathon 2 weeks prior and did find on the hills.
I managed to keep my pace average under 7 minute miles (a 6:50 average), but didn’t hit my goal of 50 minutes. The first few miles I had shin splint pain in my right shin. After I shook that it got toasty and my legs were dead.
I kept focused up doomsday and stayed positive. I felt sluggish and slow, but couldn’t get my body to move faster. I focused on picking runners off as I crested the last hill.
On the home stretch, 1.5 miles from the finish a gentleman asked me if I could dial it back a bit because he couldn’t keep up with my pace. I just looked at him like “seriously dude?! You’re asking me to slow it down, right. Not going to happen.” I simply said excuse me and kept on it. It gave me a little boost.
Knowing there was a mile to go, I felt great. I was ready to finish and was glad there was a slight downhill finish, although my pelvis wasn’t.
Yes I always rock the serious look when I run, determined and focused!!
My husband started in a later wave and said that the band at the bottom of doomsday was telling runners as they passed, that a pregnant lady was beating all of them. Marc said he assumed it was me. He crossed fairly soon after I did maybe 5 minutes later.
I ended up starting with the sub-elites just because I was asked and I wanted a bathroom with no line. Definitely wasn’t sub-elite speed, but hey bathrooms at my disposal and gear check can’t say no to that, especially when pregnant.
I crossed in 51:17. 5 minutes slower than last years time, but all things considered I can’t be too upset about it. I am pregnant after all!! 5 minutes though seems like soooo much sloooower for me.
Bumping it!!
Oh and look at my sweetie at her first race:
Just enjoying life!!
Next year I’ll go for a Bloomsday PR, by this year is a new level of competition with little expectation. My main focus should be on keeping fitness and staying healthy for baby and me.
Post race I enjoyed gardening and everything cold!! Let me tell ya, this heat is getting to me so it’s going to be a long summer.
Until next Time Be Whole and Be Fit