Get In Gear Race Recap

My friend Steph had been planning on running the Get in Gear 5k as her first for some time. When I found out I had nothing going this weekend, I decided to tag along and run the 1/2 marathon. Let's face it- I needed the run. To say my running mojo has been dearth lately is...well, correct. 


Anyway, I decided to go for it. Luckily, as I signed up on Tuesday, the weather forecast for the weekend looked terrible. (I pretty much figure if it looks bad it will, in fact, be fine. #FAIL) 


Steph and I woke up Saturday morning to the sound of pouring rain. We dressed, chatted, ate, and drove to the parking area in pouring rain. As we stood in line for the buses to the starting area, we questioned our sanity. (We decided we are sane. Just lacking common sense.) 


Here we are, fresh as daisies, after fighting our way into the pavilion for our gear drop: 

 See? Wasn't kidding about the crowd. We all had this idea that standing under shelter before the start would somehow help us stay dry in the long run. 
We also found FREE cowbells before the beginning of the race. I had to have one, despite the fact I had nowhere to keep it. Instead? I carried it for 13.1 miles in my hand. 


(as I questioned my sanity of doing so, Steph responded, "Because you are Sara, and that is what you do and why I love you." So to all you peeps out there wondering why? Because I am Sara, and I loved my yellow cowbell.) 


The race itself? Wet! 
The 1/2 marathoners ran with the 10k's until mile 5, where we broke off. I think I have run a large portion of the course before with other urban Twin Cities races. There were no pacers on the run, and I had forgotten my Garmin at home, so I had pretty much no idea of my pace the entire run. I was just going for what felt good given the wind and rain. 

Confession: I never look at the race course before a race. Serious. I have no idea where I am going, what the hills or turns look like before I hit them. I like to tell myself it is a strategy, but it's really just that I am lazy and can't read maps anyway. 
Instead, I just smile and follow the crowd. 


I was thirsty the entire race. I didn't have a water bottle on me as I was planning to use the aid stops, and I figured I could open my mouth and grab some rain drops as needed. 
At one or ten point, I thought about grabbing a handful of water from the puddles and sucking away. (I've had a dry mouth all week, so I should have known better!) 
Actually, I did grab a handful of puddle water to wash my face at mile 9...it seems I had a hard time getting the GU packet in my mouth rather than on my face. 
I also made the age old mistake of mixing GU types & flavors. NEVER a good thing for me...hello stomach distress from mile 10 on. 
Mile 12 had me almost throwing up- I couldn't decide whether it would be better to hold it in or get it out. I struggled a bit with the gear as well. It is hard to know how to layer for a rainy run, and I had too many base layers on, so my core was hot while my arms were cold. and wet...oh so wet...


Coming across a bridge over the Mississippi at mile 12? The wind was blowing the rain at an almost vertical slant. 
All the better to pelt me in the face and direct the water into my mouth, right? 

Final result: 

Location	Race Time	Time of Day	Overall Place	Division Place	Sex Place
Time	2:01:21	11:02:29	516/1021	67/201	180/531
10 Mile	1:33:20	10:34:29	540/1028	76/202	197/533
4 Mile	37:47	9:38:56	575/1028	84/203	224/536
GunStart	00:00	8:59:54
ChipStart	1:16	9:01:09	579/1245	91/253	264/670

 

I came in slower than I would  have liked, so I will take that as a reason to train harder! 

Things to work on:

• I've felt a few tinges in my left knee on my last few runs. I need to do some amped up cross training to avoid IT problems. 

• Core strength 

• Proper hydration. (There may not be puddles at the next race as an option.) 

• Not mixing GU types. I have done this multiple times, paid the price multiple times. Blueberry GU + Expresso + Vanilla Bean + Lemon Gatorade= FAIL 

Anyway, to finish it off? I love running. I love these types of races. There is nothing better than seeing thousands of people out there doing the thing we love, hearing the feet hitting the pavement, seeing the effort put out, and giving it our all.

To the sweet lady at the end who told me she had spent the race following my bum and how much it helped her? I lub you. 
To the bums I chased? You, with the unique white piping on your pants? Purple jacket lady? Girl who ran with her legs flying sideways? Thank YOU. 


I came home yesterday to the boys playing with my nephew, who was over for the day. On a runner's energy high, I baked 2 cakes, cookies, brownies, did 5 loads of laundry, cleaned the house, organized the cupboards, cleaned the fridge, played Mario, read a story to my nephew, broke up 1,000 arguments, and ran errands. 
Today? I pretty much haven't moved over a 10 foot radius all day. I'm going down for a nap now.