Race Recap: Partners N Pain 5k

I haven’t done one a race recap in so long. Since before baby was born. This was my first official race back post baby, nearly 4 months after having baby. We did do the annual Turkey Trot in Thanksgiving, but that’s more like a fun run than a race, so the Partners in Pain 5k marked the first official race of the year, and the first race back.

Let’s just say that I am no where near 5k shape and it’s hard to write a race recap for only 3 miles. I spent the weekend with a horrible sinus infection and head cold. I had the body chills Friday and Saturday, and also body aches. It was horrible. I am still draining, and didn’t think it was possible to have this much snot in my head. My sister and I both agree we should have lost 10 pounds by now with all the mucus we have been draining. I would just like my normal voice back and to breathe again.

Sorry I digress. Back to my race recap. This year the race landed on Valentines day, and since I love to run and our family loves to run, what better way to spend a Valentines morning. If it weren’t for the sinus infection, it would have been a much more enjoyable weekend. Baby girl was congested and had a horrible cough as well.

Saturday morning came around and I told Marc we were doing the race. Lucky him he felt great, so I volunteered him to push baby girl. Typically you run with a partner, adding your times together, but I forget to check this option when I registered for the race, so we registered as individuals. Our time would have gave us first place in our combined age group. Darn it.

Baby girl gained most the attention before and after the race. My running team even wanted her in the race day photos.

It was in the 40s when we lined up at 10 a.m. to start the race, so perfect weather. A short out and back. I felt like I was just getting warmed up when I hit the final stretch. Shorter distances aren’t my specialty. The longer the better.

Being I had a head cold, I didn’t expect a PR or a great performance. I surprised myself with a 19:15 (not a PR), and 3rd overall finish for female individual racers. I’ll take it.

The first mile was basically a mile for loosening up the legs, even though I ran a warm up. My legs weren’t firing, snot was dripping, and I could barely breathe. I stayed with a pack of girls, and felt like we were moving to slowly, so raced on. Finished the first mile in 6:20

Mile 2 came after the turn around, and I was feeling good. I was warmed up, and besides being congested I felt great. I counted 3 girls ahead of me. Mile 2 was a 6:08. When I hit mile 2, it was a slight uphill for the remainder of the race. I zoomed past some guys, one which was like a giant. I swear I came up to his waist.

By 2.5 miles, I was spent. I could start to feel the burning in the stomach, the all to familiar 5k race pain I enjoyed in high school, and probably sounded like a yak in labor (as my husband would say), because of my sinus infection. I felt my wheels slowly starting to die, and was looking forward to the finish, but my legs were finally starting to fire. I stayed in 4th place, and tried to catch the only girl I could see in front of me, but she finished 15 seconds before me.

The last 1/2 mile, I was thinking, “Man I am really not in 5K shape. Really wish I had a Kleenex. Man I wish could actually blow a snot rocket without getting it all over my face and clothes.”

Once the finish line was in sight, I picked it up a little, realizing it was much further than I thought. The last mile was a 6:07 , which was surprising. I thought it was going to be much slower, giving that I felt like I died. I came in at 19:15. The last .11 miles was .39. 

Marc came in about 2 minutes later with baby. He agreed he wasn’t in 5K shape either, but did extremely well for having to push the jogger. Baby girl took first in her age group and Marc took first in his age group for individual racers.

So Serious Baby R…just like “Yeah mom I kicked butt!!”

We hung around after the race, and I visited with some girls from my running team. I won 4 tickets to a hockey game of my choice this season or next here in town. All and all it wasn’t a bad race, and was fun. I just wish I was in fast racing shape and didn’t have to deal with congestion and a head cold.

It felt great to be back to racing and competing again with others. I never thought I would see the day I would be running races, breast feeding before and after in the car, and while waiting for awards in a local gym. Yes, I was that mom, and to be honest, nursing in public is normal for me.

Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit

What’s your favorite race distance? How long did you wait to race again after having children?