Hot Chocolate 15k

On Sunday January 26th, I ran the farthest distance I have ever run.  Everything about this race was new to me but it was such a learning experience and it was a lot of fun.  The week leading up to the race was everything you don't want a week to be.

On the 20th, I celebrated my birthday by running 4.2 miles.  I wanted to hit at least 4.5 but my shin just hurt and I headed home.  My goal was 4.5 because I knew that if I hit that in a training run without too much pain I could run the 15k no problem, I just hadn't really run since my last race and I was getting nervous.  That night I went out to dinner with some friends and MRM surprised me with a Garmin Forerunner 220.  It is beautiful and I love it, I only wish I had it earlier in the day to use for my run.

I waited until Thursday to get my last run in before the 15k, I was nervous that I would hurt myself and I'd have to back out and I just didn't want to do that, it was a race I have been looking forward too for a long time.  I did a 30 minute interval run of 3:1, run 3 minutes walk 1 minute.  I did this because I had read that it helps with speed and injury.  I ran harder than I should have but I was just so excited to use my watch and I had new clothes from Christmas that I hadn't really worn because of my shin splints and trying to take it easy before this race.


My neighbours and I decided to carpool up to Atlanta for the race and headed up on Saturday so we could go to the expo.  It was my first time going to a race expo and it was fun, they had chocolate samples and tons of different running stores from the area were there.  After the expo we headed to hotel and it took everything in my being to not take a nap.  I was so exhausted but I knew that if I took a nap, I'd be up all night and we were going to leave early the next day.  I went to dinner at the sports bar of the hotel and watched some Chicago basketball.  After dinner I went back to my room and did some Yoga X just to get a good stretch in before the big day.  It was exhilarating doing yoga again, it has been such a long time and I used to love it.  I have vowed to start doing it more.

Race day was upon me and I was so excited and nervous, my neighbour who was running was in the first corral for the 15k and I was in the last so I knew him and his wife would be waiting awhile for me.  I made the decision to run in my Mizuno Wave Inspire's, the ones with the most miles on them for extra comfort and knowing they have gotten me through some great runs. Right at the beginning of the race I met some wonderful ladies and we all decided to stick together and do the 3:1 because they haven't ran in awhile and I was scared to injure myself, I couldn't help but start the race smiling.  The first thing I didn't know about Atlanta was how hilly it is not only compared to Valdosta but just really hilly in general.  I knew instantly that the 3:1 that I chose to do was the right choice because I have never run somewhere so hilly.  At the 5k spot we were all on track and averaging just under a 12 minute mile which is faster than I run normally but with the walk breaks it felt great.  At the 10k spot, I had a new PR for 10k time and I was so excited to only have another 5k left.The last 3.1 miles of this race seemed to be the longest, the 3:1 wasn't really happening on the hills, I just knew I had to make it in under 2 hours, that was my goal and I wanted so badly to do it.  We ran under the Olympic Rings that are in Atlanta and it was incredible and so much fun, once we hit the 9 mile marker I promised myself I would run the remaining .3 miles but just couldn't do it but made sure to push as hard as I could once I saw that finish line in sight.  My garmin says my time was 1:59:23 and I was so happy and could not wait to get some hot chocolate and fondue, I was starving.  My shins finally started hurting since they went numb at about mile 4.  I slept part of the car ride home and my shins were killing me so once I got home, I iced them and just relaxed.  Being on my couch was the best feeling ever.  


I just want to say thank you to those three women who helped me cross the finish line in just under my goal time and if it wasn't for them I don't think I would have hit my goal.