When the year started I started training with really high hopes and then lets just say things did not go according to plan. I got a bumped knee. When you run a whole year (almost 700 miles) without ever getting injured and start the new year with a injury it does make you one grumpy, angry person. It was almost comical when you take break (in between changing jobs) from your work with the hope that you will be able to put in some solid training and then immediately you are told you cannot run. Only good thing about the break was a one week visit to family in Chicago. I really needed that !! Every time I saw a run workout it would be running in Z1 of 30-40 mins and I did not like that. My awesome coach knew I was not in happy state (I made it ample clear in my notes :P) and she did keep reminding me that its really early in the season to be that worried.
Last year I did this 10k and I was really happy with the way it was organized. Considering this was just 10 miles drive from my place I really wanted to do it. But with almost no running (atleast consistent running) up to this point I knew it would be crazy to even think about it. But never the less I emailed Kim if I could do it. I think she was not very comfortable in allowing me to do it. For one if I bumped my knee again I would end up where I was 3 weeks back!! But I ensured her that I would not do any crazy running. I will keep it steady and would start to walk immediately if I got that pain back. With that conversation I signed up for it day before the race.
For me this race was not about time, PR etc. It was simple. I just wanted to go out and run. Some people might not get it but think this way...if you are really passionate about something, something that really makes you happy and you are forced not to do it for 3 weeks....you might get it. Running means that too me. It is something I look forward to day in day out.
Screw up
I knew this race is a very popular local race but I had no idea it was so popular. I reached the parking lot (which was about 2 mile from the start line) about 1 hour earlier. But with only 3 or 4 mini shuttles between the parking lot and start line and 100's of people waiting to get there it was taking eternity to get into the shuttle. Finally when I got to the start location I could see 10k people starting their race from the shuttle. I still had to collect my bib, check in my bag, signed the waiver, blah blah before I could even start running. So by the time I got down off the shuttle and did all that stuff there was no one in sight..all 10k people had already left. This has never happened to me before and I was one nervous rat. I asked the organizer now what should I do and they said just start running..we are anyways going to give you chip time...so with no warm up etc. I just started running almost 10 mins after everybody had left.
Descision time
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| No I am not having heart attack :P |
with how you feel. I was also ready to just walk if something went wrong with the knee. But until that time..no looking at the watch and just run and have fun!!
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| Done! |
I ran most of the race with really free mind and happy feeling. Yes it was no where near what I agreed to do with the coach. But then I really needed this race to clear my mind. I wanted to re-affirm myself that whatever I have been doing in the gym to get back to running is working and all hope is not lost. I know this might have been lucky escape for me in the sense I did not hurt myself again and I need to be cautious for next few weeks before getting back to consistent running but for now I will take it as positive sign..
Last year I did this course it was my PR time for 10k (1:05) this year I reach the finish line little earlier (53:57). Trust me if I did not see that finish line I would have ended up running half marathon without any regrets ;)
Garmin file
http://connect.garmin.com/activity/266227940
