I gave a bit of a preview of the race in yesterday’s training recap post, but as promised, here is the full recap. Warning: it’s a long one, so if you just want the quick and dirty, scroll all the way down. 🙂
I initially signed up for the race at the encouragement of my friend, C, who lured me in with the promise of a Timex watch as the finisher’s premium. Since I’m a sucker for cool stuff, I was in! Then, after I registered I noticed this blurb on the home page of the race…
Notice: This is not a race you are likely to set a personal record. It is a tough race with a hilly course run in the heat and humidity of a Chesapeake August. Temperatures can be 80 degrees at the start, with high humidity. Please be sure you are properly trained.
Um…this was NOT reassuring to say the least, so I just decided I’d treat the race as a training run. Nothing more and nothing less. But as my marathon training went along, I decided I wanted to set a PR. Luckily for me, my Cherry Blossom 10 Miler time left ample room for PR setting (1:51:02). Then my ankles started killing me and I went back to focusing on just finishing the dang race. I rested my ankles, set my alarm for 0 dark 30 and went to bed the night before the race hoping and praying it’d all work out.
Once we got to the Navy Stadium (the start of the race), I started to feel pretty excited. The runners seemed friendly and excited and by how organized the start was (folks started crossing the start line RIGHT at 7am), I was confident that the race would be managed well. And it was. Despite the hills, I MIGHT think about doing this race again just because the execution was so fantastic. And it was great hill training for my marathon, which is a bit hilly as well. I actually think Richmond will be a bit easier (not easier overall, because DUH it’s a marathon, but the hills might be more manageable) because the hills are rolling hills (mostly) where the A10 was NOT.
Anyway, I could definitely tell the difference in how I attacked the hills in Sunday’s race compared to my June 10k in Annapolis when the hills attacked me. 🙂
On to the actual recap! My Nike app gives me a little update every two miles so that’s how I’ll structure this portion of the recap. Here’s what I was thinking every couple of miles…
Miles 1 & 2: Ah, nice flat start. I feel like we are going too fast. Oh, yeah that was just 2 pretty fast miles. I guess my ankles are okay?
Miles 3 & 4: OOh, it’s pretty. Oh. Dang. I know we’re getting close to the huge bridge. Maybe if I take some fuel it will help? This bridge is awful. Why did I sign up for this race?
Miles 5 & 6: Over the bridge – yay! Running through shaded neighborhoods is awesome. I love how friendly the folks of Annapolis are. Oh, wow someone is offering beer. That sounds like the LAST thing I want right now. Gross. But, it’s a nice offer. Kids offering high fives! Yes! I love high fives!
Miles 7 & 8: More hills. I.HATE.HILLS. Right now I hate my life. Why did I sign up for this race? More fuel! Meh, it probably won’t help. Oh, look I’m passing people on the hills. I love hills. Well, not really. But I love passing people on them 🙂 Oops, probably shouldn’t admit that! 🙂 I love running!
Miles 9 & 10: Dang it. I forgot we have to run back over that awful bridge. Ugh. Can I walk? No, because if I walk I won’t run anymore. Maybe it won’t be as bad as I remember? Oh…it’s worse. Sigh. OMG. There is a tiny rolling hill at mile 9.5 – WHY ARE THEY DOING THIS TO ME? Finish line? Finish line! Yay!!! I love running! And I PR’ed? Yes! Oooh Popsicles!
There were 7 water stations on the course and the city of Annapolis was super welcoming. I have to say that running an extremely well managed race is a fantastic thing. This was a tough course, but there were beautiful views and I feel really good that I pushed myself during the 1:46 it took me to finish. I’m calling this a success!
What was the last great race you ran? What made it so awesome?
LOL!! your post cracked me up! I love running in Annapolis but learned the hard way how hilly it is. All the races I’ve done in Annapolis or Baltimore have been truly fabulous!! Good work on your PR…. Take care of your ankle!
Thanks – that’s literally the mess that runs through my head as I run 🙂 I am currently wearing a dress and bright pink compression socks and its glorious!
Your inner diagloge sounds a lot like mine! lol Love your recap!
It’s so funny the range of thoughts that go through your head as you run!
Nice work! Hills are a bi$#%! Way to conquer them!
Thank you Karen! I’m just SO grateful we had good weather 🙂
Love the racap – that was an awesome. I’m really liking hills lately, am I sick? At least in the duathlon I was so excited because I was finally able to keep my pace going up hills and I loved the result.
Thanks lady 🙂 Nothing wrong with liking hills – at least in my book! It is a total feel of accomplishment to just totally crush a hill 🙂