10k On-the-Fly
I’m slowly getting back into running again. I’m up to three or four times a week, and it feels so good. Well, mentally, at least. Physically, I’m freaking sore! My calves are throbbing, my back is aching, and my thighs feel like they’ve been put in one of those paint shakers at Home Depot. As my dad always said, getting old is hell! But, I’m doing it one step at a time. If I don’t feel like running on a day when I planned to run, then I walk. If I’m running and get tired, then I turn back for home. I’m trying not to push myself too hard yet. My body needs to adjust to our old routine before I can start expecting it to just take off like it used to.
But last weekend, that all went to crap.
Last week, I ran my farthest since my dad died. 4.5 miles. And I came home and felt awesome. I went to work that day and literally danced all day long. We were doing a poetry analysis of Katy Perry’s song, “Firework,” and I danced it out every period. My students thought I was insane. And then some of them took videos of it on their phones, and I’m almost 99% positive that I’m out there on YouTube somewhere, dancing it up with a video title that says, “My Teacher’s Lost Her Mind.”
Anyway, having been that pumped up about my long run, I instantly needed more. Running is addicting, and once you hit that happy place, you just want to stay there. Like, forever. So, I immediately came home from school that day and signed up for a stinking 10k run! That was less than a week away! And to make it even worse, I called my mother-in-law (who is not only a runner herself, but a race coordinator and a Jeff Galloway certified trainer) and my sister-in-law (who is a new runner, but has already kicked my butt by running a half marathon right out of the gate – I sort of hate her…) and my friend, Dawn (who shared my views on running, family, faith, work, life, humor, marriage, and just about everything in between). And I made them all sign up for the race, too! Now I had a team! Which meant that when the runner and dancer’s high wore off later that night, I was stuck and there was no way I could back out even if I wanted to.
So, this past Saturday, Jackie, Annie and I got up at 5:15am and headed to the race. It was POURING rain. We were soaked by the time we got to the starting line. But there was no way I was backing out now. I had just pumped myself up for three whole days. I was running a 10k that morning, whether it was raining or not.
The rain situation was somewhat improved when I met up with Dawn and discovered there was a big group of runners from my church running, too. Somehow, seeing other moms out there pumped and ready to go gave me the false impression that I was ready to go, too.
And then the horn sounded, and there was no turning back. False impression, runners high, or not, I was going to run a 10k without any training at all.
The first three miles of the race were pretty good. I sing while I run, always have. I think it’s because I run so early in the mornings so no one is around. Plus, my music is blaring in my ears and I just let it all out. I sing LOUDLY, too. And I didn’t see any reason not to continue with that while I was racing with all these people. I sang for a good part of the first three miles. Mostly, I serenaded Annie, who I think was pretty embarrassed. But honey badger don’t care. Honey badger wants to SING.
(Can you tell I’m singing in this picture?)
By mile four, I was regretting the singing. I probably should have conserved that energy. That’s probably why more people don’t sing while they run… I started getting slow in the fourth mile. And I’m pretty slow to begin with. But I was still so excited!
At the end of the fourth mile, I realized that if I didn’t pee somewhere, I was going to have a real situation on my hands. I finally found a port-a-potty on a construction site at some home that was being renovated. I hated having to stop because a) I was already super slow on my time and I didn’t want to be even slower, b) I didn’t want to hold Jackie and Annie back, and c) I really didn’t want to pee in a port-a-potty. But a what are ya gonna do in mile four of a race when your bladder is about to explode? You’re going to find a blue plastic port-a-potty and you’re gonna pee in it. And then you’re going to realize that it has been raining and your running capris are soaked, which makes them incredibly difficult to pull back up again. And then you’re going to hop around inside the port-a-potty while trying not to touch anything and tugging on your pants until you think they might tear. And then you’re going to WIN, and your pants will be pulled up like a real grown up. And then you’re going to run back out and join the rest of the runners and finish your damn race. THAT’S what you’re gonna do.
Mile five brought all kinds of pain. And cursing. And walking. And more cursing. At this point, I didn’t even try to keep up with Jackie and Annie. I just kept thinking, “All you have to do is finish. Just do whatever it takes to finish. And don’t throw up.”
Mile six was brutal. Absolutely brutal. I believe it was in this mile that I told Jackie she was a terrible mother-in-law for trying to encourage me to be a runner. It was a low time, people. A very low time.
By the very last .2 miles, I was pacing myself with this older gentleman who was slow, like me, but still looked like he had some spunk left in him. In the last .2 miles, Jackie and Annie came back to where I was and insisted that we all cross the finish line together. As I surged forward with them, I yelled out to the man when I passed him, “WILL YOU PLEASE CARRY ME????” Another low point.
But, there at the finish line were Chris, Beanie, and Gracie cheering for me. I pushed one more time and made it across the finish line.
Let me tell you, don’t run a 10k without training, folks. It wasn’t so much the distance that was the problem. It was my body. I was sore for DAYS. DAYS, I tell you. I have hobbled around all week like an old lady. My back has been killing me. It just wasn’t prepared to support me for that long of a distance. 5k’s you can probably wing, but a 10k is just painful if you haven’t had any preparation. At least, it was for my flabby butt.
Thank goodness, though, for family and friends who don’t see you as the flabby-bottomed, sore, old lady that you are. Instead, they see me as a runner. And it’s pretty nice to wear that title again.
17 Comments
cathy
You are awesome! Be proud, be very proud of yourself.
Erin @ Blue-Eyed Bride
Everything about this is awesome. Good for you for getting back out there!! And I love the video!
Jen
First off I have to say you must be one of the favorite teachers…that was awesome!
Second good for you for actually running. Whenever I run I always tell myself I just have to cross the finish line. That is my only goal. You are a total runner and I have started to train again for my second race cause reading your posts made me realize if you have time to get out to run so do I…so just keep on running 🙂
Suzanne
You are AWESOME Katie! Be very proud of yourself! Also, I agree with above….I bet you are their favorite teacher. Loved the video!….I want to be a teacher now haha!
Jill@ATrailLife
You are so funny and I just love the way you write 🙂 Congrats on the 10K – I’m so happy that you found your runner’s high again!
Rebecca @ The Reluctant Housewife
fun story.. I did the exact same thing you did, but with a 15k a few years ago… prior to the race starting I’d never run more than 3 straight miles in my entire life, and I’d been training for MONTHS to just get up to that point. 2 weeks before the race I got super sick and couldn’t work out at all. When I stood at the starting line and heard the gun go off, I just started crying because I was CONVINCED that I was going to die, and I was so sure that I was the stupidest person that I’d ever met in my life. By mile 7 my hands had gone numb and I’d lost feeling in my legs and I was literally praying that I didn’t die while running that stupid race. My entire goal was to just not be picked up by the cart guys… I think it took me the better part of a week to recover from that stupidity. But, you know what? Every single year {even though I’m STILL not a runner} I want to sign up for that race again. Last year, I sat on the sidewalk and cheered racers on while holding a sign that on one side said, “You are AWESOME” and on the other “Free Donuts”…
Lindsey
Holy crap – can we be best friends please?? I die. I read your posts and I die! I love the picture of you singing and running – seriously hysterical! I always get that urge to burst out in song when I run and my music is blaring – I usually busy a quick move instead or run in a quick circle while waving my hands in air like I just don’t care. Anywho – well done imaginary best friend. Well done!
Lindsey
Frick! Typos!
Bust**** a quick move
Waving my hands in THE** air
Jenny
Great job, Katie! The first 5K I ran was a Weight Watchers 5K three years ago. I didn’t train, and I ran the entire thing, because I had my husband and my brother (who’s a CC runner) run it with me, to keep me running the whole time, because, you know, I am stubborn. My next 5K (2011), I trained, but I was so miserable at the end. But there was free beer 🙂 Good for you getting back out there, I’m super proud of you, imaginary friend!! 😀
Alaina
Oh my, I love that video! Awesome, totally awesome!!
Katie B
Girl, you have inspired me with all your posts about running! I just started running this week. I haven’t run intentionally since high school, so this is quite something! lol I signed up earlier in the year to do The Color Run here in Atlanta at the beginning of April. I was planning to just walk it (I’ve walked 5ks before), but now I’m planning to throw a bit of running in there too! 🙂 You rock for running a 10k! Even if you wanted to die afterward (or during, rather). 😉
Angie
I love your running posts – please do more! I laughed out loud a couple times reading this…I’ve never done more than a 5k & I get a little stressed before those! You have b@lls girl! HAHA.
Renee
I signed up to run my first 10k in May. I signed up in December, so I would have plenty of time to train. I got up to 4.5 miles (the most I had ever run was a 5k). Then I found out I was pregnant, and would be around 20 weeks at race time, so I gave up training. During my last pregnancy, running was very uncomfortable very early on, so I knew I wouldn’t be able to do it. Plus, with a history of miscarriage, I want to take it easy. There’s always next year! And you have inspired me to believe that I can! 🙂 Great job, Katie!
Emily
I did the same thing this morning! I ran the Crescent City Classic 10k this morning with no training. I meant to train, but it just didn’t happen! I’m sure I’ll be feeling it all this week just like you did. I was dying the whole time, but it was the funnest race I’ve ever done. People along the route were handing out beer, jello shots, beads, flowers, and food to the runners and every few blocks, there was either a house playing music, brass bands, or even just drunk guys playing the piano. At the end of the race, everyone gets a medal and there’s a festival with free beer, red beans and rice, and jambalaya, as well as live music. And the most exciting part is that I finished! haha. As hard as it was, I’m definitely looking forward to making this race a annual tradition!
Emily
The Crescent City Classic in New Orleans**
Amber@almostfairytale
Katie,
So proud of you. I am trying (again) to start running so seeing you get back in it is motivation. I went to your hometown area on vacation this past week by the way and fell in absolute love.
Christy
So now we know where Gracie gets her dance skills from. Chris, it’s your turn. ; )