2010 Cotton Row Run 10K

Well after signing up over a month ago, the day finally arrived for the 31st running of the Mercedes Benz Cotton Row Run in Huntsville, Alabama on May 31, 2010. Some 5,240 runners had signed up for the three races, 10K, 5K & fun run and for the Fallen Officer's Memorial Walk. The weather was overcast and a big muggy and humid. 

After suffering from shin splints from “Hades” in the past, we got out our Kinesio Tape the night before and applied in the appropriate places. I looked quite the bionic woman afterward. Bright blue tape up and down my leg, strategically placed to prevent the pain that I suffer after each race.

The night before, my husband whom I think believes I have lost my mind anyway, quietly cornered me urging me to at least drop down to the 5K if I was dead set on running in this race. Oh if he only knew how those same thoughts had crossed my mind more than once. But I am a stubborn woman and I had decided I was all in.

After another sleepless night before, I woke at 3 AM to prepare for the day. My usual pre-race nerves were at an all time high that morning. For some reason I just can't seem to get a handle on them. I had a lot of anxiety over the usual issues like will I be able to stay with the running pack and will I look stupid running, do I need to drink my coffee or eat something, and if so-then what? If I eat will I get the runners trots, and if I don't eat will I be able to make it on empty. What will I wear? If it rains or I run through the sprinklers will my shirt be see through? All the usual crazy things going through my mind..

Worse still, that morning I woke up with my previously broken foot hurting me. I had not run in 3 weeks. I just didn't feel at the top of my game. I was going to run in my largest race ever going farther than I ever had in a race and I was not physically prepared after not training for so long. What was I thinking?

A friend had called the day before to ask about riding together and I really considered backing out of the whole thing then. But I told myself that I had made a commitment and I was going to see this through. My daughter and I had run the course 3 weeks earlier just to be sure I could complete it. A group was meeting every weekend morning for the whole month to train. We went. It was torture. I walked/jogged and ran it slowly and not even within sight of the others, but I finished it. My daughter stayed with me as we made our way.

But today was the day. Monday, Memorial Day 2010. As my daughter and I drove to my friends house to pick him up, I truly felt sick at my stomach. It was beyond butterflies- it was an “I may need to pull over and hurl” feeling all the way there. We drove the 30 minutes it took to get there with my husband and other daughter following behind us in the pre dawn dark. In my Nike Structure shoes and my Reebok running pants and top with my blue taped legs, I was as ready as I was going to be. But definitely was questioning my sanity at that point.

We were early and got a prime parking spot. The setups were just getting underway. We had time to walk around and relax a bit before things started jumping. It helped. As the people poured in, I became calmer and “zen” like. It took effort, but I reminded myself that my goals were simple that day. Foremost it was just complete the race. Secondly I would like to not be the last person over the finish line. Thirdly, have some fun and enjoy the race. I realize this sounded like some very low goals to the diehard competitive racers, and I must admit not my usual mindset when competing. But I had to realistic. I was undertrained to expect anything more.

Once we were instructed to line up at the 7AM start time, I went to the point near the back of the pack. Then I decided to move up more to the middle of the pack as everyone tightened up the lines. As we stood in line, the officials gave us a speech about how this was a challenging course and that only those truly fit should run it. That if you weren’t there was no shame in dropping out. Great! Just what I needed to hear when I was already feeling a bit overwhelmed. Good Grief. But stubborn and determined I held my place.

Then after the pre-race ceremonies were over, we were off. A throng of thousands literally, elbow to elbow for at least the first half mile and then it started opening up as the faster runners pulled ahead of the pack.

As I ran through the streets of Huntsville with my fellow runners, the spectators cheered us on. Hundreds of people had come to cheer on their loved ones and strangers as they each worked to accomplish their own personal goals for the day. It was such a neat sight to see and made me feel so good.

As we made our way through the 6.2 miles, we would talk amongst ourselves. I met new people and heard their short stories about their experiences that day or why they were running. Some were running for their first time, some were running their 100^th time and recovering from injuries. Of course the faster runners were long gone from our area of the pack, but you felt like comrades as you ran together and chatted; happily knowing there were quite a few more runners behind us. Validating that while we might be slow, we weren’t the slowest; not that being the slowest was bad.

The topic always turned to the hill ahead; that hateful straight up hill that seemed to go on forever. I knew where it was and I knew it would take all my mettle to reach the top. Once we made it through that point, we would be half way and the rest would be relatively easy after that. As I was running I encountered four 15 year girls running their third 10K together. These girls were so funny. Ah youth… But being able to say that I was able to hang with the 15 year olds for most of the race made me feel a little better about it all. Now they may feel differently because they have to say they ran with the 50 year old. And we followed the 70 year old that beat us all…

Once we reached the bottom of the dreaded hill, someone had the theme from Rocky playing loudly to spur us on. It did inspire me to run the first quarter of it before my legs said “What you talking about woman?!!” NO WAY! So I walked the rest of the way up; at one point almost crawling it as my nose came closer and closer to the asphalt. When your car actually has to strain to get up a hill, you know its steep.

However, once I reached the top, the guys carrying the American Flag were there to cheer us on and congratulate us for our successes. The water station was ahead and a sprinkler was set up to run through to cool us down. Thank you Huntsville!! After that point, it was another smaller hill and then the very steep downhill descent. I turned it on as fast as I safely could. I reached the bottom to the blaring sounds of Alicia Keyes’ Empire State of Mind. Just what I needed to give me that extra push along. The people standing in their yard cheered us loudly and we all had a bit of dancing in the streets with the music as we went by. It was a priceless moment. Next, it was a shout out to some more friends who lived along the course way and some more cheering on. By then we all knew we were going to make it. It was mile 4 and only 2.2 more to go…

As I pounded out those last couple of miles, loudly breathing, trying to conserve that little bit for the sprint at the finish line, I was smiling and feeling that this is where I needed to be. Maybe that was that runners high I had kept hearing so much about. I truly loved the moment. This was the first time that I could remember actually enjoying the run itself. Before, the enjoyment always came after it was over.

That last quarter mile was priceless. The crowds cheering, the music playing, the excitement in the air; it was all good. As I crossed the finish line, my friends and family were there waiting and cheering me on. They had run good races and were feeling good too. My husband was smiling and proud of me also. The first person I saw was the smiling face of my younger daughter as she whooped and hollered for me; it was all perfect.As I sat at the base of a big elm tree I savored the moment. I had accomplished my goals. I had done IT! I may be slow, but I still did it. It was just bliss. I can’t describe it any better.

The day was a great day. The race was perfectly organized. The rain had held off. The crowds were huge. I saw no one injured or sick. It was just good fun!

Maybe –just maybe-there is still some kick left in me yet….

Granted I have been sore all over, but no shin splints. Yea Kinesio tape!

Laughing at the Speed Bumps

Ok, so by now I should feel like a pro on this 5K stuff right? Saturday I ran my third 5K. I was feeling like I should be ready for this without any problems. After all, I have already run two previous ones. This was at my hometown where I grew up. I knew the roads intimately. This should be a cinch. Wrong!

While my nerves on race morning were a little bit better controlled, I still felt a strong sense of self doubt. Touted as a flat and fast course that would allow you to improve your personal record, I signed up for this one thinking “Alright! I got this!”

However, once I arrived I saw that a smaller field of participants meant that the likelihood of me being at the back of the pack was higher. The majority of these runners looked very seasoned and younger than me. As I see it younger usually means faster. Oh well, nothing ventured nothing gained.

My goal for the day was to first finish the race; second improve my personal record; and third not to come in last. As I relayed those goals to a friend who was running his second 5K, he told me that my goals were way too low. I should strive to WIN! As we lined up at the start line, I hung back. He came back to me and told me that I was taking a defeatist attitude by not lining up on the front; that positive thinking would make me run better and faster. I told him that I was just being a realist and letting the faster runners get a better start.

Then the horn blew and we were off. My friends and daughter rocketed across the start line to set the pace. I ran about a quarter of a mile and had to walk. What the HECK was going on with my body? My legs felt like mush and I couldn’t seem to get my breathing right. I looked around to see that I was at the back of the pack. Only a couple of people were behind me and gaining. I felt defeated already. Crap!

So I took a moment to gather myself and pushed forward. I ran slowly but steadily. Soon I started passing people. Several of those that had passed me had started walking by then and I soon made my way around them. Only a couple caught up to pass me after that point. Little by little I pushed my way through the runners until I had to stop again to walk. At a mile and half in I grabbed a drink of water at the water station. My mouth felt like I had cotton balls inside. As soon as I swished the water I was off again. Once I reached the two mile mark, I saw that I was off my desired pace by over a minute. Kick it girlie!

As I made the first turn past the two mile mark, I encountered the first of four speed bumps. It was comical to see the volunteers holding up signs to warn me that a speed bump was ahead when it was so largely obvious. Maybe it was hysterics or perhaps heat exhaustion, but I got so tickled that I got some funny looks as I trudged by. I was still laughing when I reached the second one at about 100 yards up the road.

Once I reached the two and half mile mark, I had slowed down to a walk again and was right behind a girl half my age walking. She looked dejected. I walked quietly behind her for about fifteen seconds and then took a deep breath. I looked at her and said “OK girlfriend-we’re at the two and a half mile mark. We can do this. Let’s go get ‘em!” She just smiled and shook her head no. I shrugged and took off again. As I neared the next to last turn there was a slight hill. I was all alone, except for the construction workers who just stared as I blasted down the incline as fast as my little short fat legs would go. I was reminded of my daughter jokingly telling me that I look like a hobbit when I run. Well whatever I can do to entertain…

Then I encountered two more speed bumps complete with volunteers holding signs warning of their existence. More laughter ensued in between my loud gasping for breath as I continued to push onward. Come on now! I am wasting valuable resources with this silliness. Get on with it!

At the last turn before the half mile push to the finish line, I was even able to appreciate the attractiveness of the beefy fireman working traffic control. One has to be able to enjoy themselves whenever the opportunity arises- right?

The last quarter of mile was sheer torture. My lungs felt like hot pokers of fire. My legs were screaming. My nausea was dangerously close to some embarrassing attention. I saw the timer at the finish line. I had only a short time to kick it in to beat my previous time. My daughter and her friend appeared out of the crowd running back towards me on the sidewalk.

Please believe me when I say my daughter can rival any track coach when it comes to urging me on in those final yards. She showed no mercy as I sprinted with the very last drop of energy I could muster toward the finish line. It was like I saw it all in slow motion as I raced to beat the clock in my Nike Structure running shoes. Tick Tock. Tick Tock. Gasp Gasp Gasp….

When I passed the finish line, I had shaved only a minute of my previous time off. But a minute was a minute and I’ll take what I can get. It was a hard earned minute and I refuse to diminish how significant it was to me.

Granted I am still as slow as a turtle compared to those in front of me, especially my daughter and friends. But each race is an improvement. There were still quite a few behind me yet to complete the race; the last one crossing a good twenty minutes behind me. As I sat on the sidewalk gasping for air, I knew I had done it! My husband, my daughter, friends and the crowd had all cheered me on to the finish. It was an incredible feeling. 

After the race, the awards ceremony followed. My friend came in first in his age division. My daughter came in third overall female and first in her age group. Her friend came in first in her age group. And low and behold- I came in second in my age group! We all received medals and gift certificates to the local Athletics/ Sporting Goods store. Sweet!

The third race was just as important as the first and second because I learned new things each time. This time I learned that even though it may seem everyone at the first is going to kick my butt, I just need to do my thing and believe in myself. I learned not to give up or give in to insecurity and doubt. I also learned how to reach down deep for that sprint to the finish. These are some lessons that I think would be wise to carry over into everyday life as well. I realize that even if I do finish last, at least I am in the race. I learned to enjoy the ride! Finally I learned its okay to laugh at the speed bumps along the way….

First 5K at 50

On this past New Years Eve I ran in my first 5K. Just a week shy of my fiftieth birthday, eighty pounds overweight and very much out of shape, I let my daughter convince me to run in this crazy race. Perhaps it was some mid life crisis I was feeling over the reality of turning 50 or just pure denial at the sad state I had allowed my body to reach that caused me to agree to this insanity.

Whatever the reason, I made the commitment. I filled in the registration form, circled my shirt size, sent in my check and made my plan. From the moment I watched the mailman take away my envelope, the anxiety started setting in. What had I just done???

In the weeks leading up to the event, my anxiety rose to near panic. I asked myself a thousand questions: “What if I couldn’t finish the race?” “What would I wear?” “What could I wear?” “Will my fat jiggle everywhere?” “Will people laugh at me?” “What if I make a fool out of myself?” “What if I had a heart attack?” Good grief that would be embarrassing (not to mention inconvenient) “Dang-what was I thinking?” I wasn’t a runner. I was barely a walker!!

One thing I found out at the beginning of this little endeavor was that most fitness stores do not carry large women size clothing. And don’t even think about the clothing stores for larger women carrying anything remotely “work-out-ish”. They don’t want you to even think about losing weight! However, after searching high and low, I was able to find a runners skirt, some tights and a nice shirt to wear. A good sports bra is a MUST! I went to a specialty store and was fitted with the proper running shoe; bought some good cushiony socks, a Nike cap and I was set. Clothing wise anyways; my fitness level was another whole subject.

Then it was New Years Eve. While most normal people were getting ready for their night out, I was in absolute panic mode readying myself for a night of what was sure to be hell. Worrying about all the possibilities, I felt that if I just finished that would be enough of an accomplishment for now.

My daughter kept reassuring me that I was going to be fine. I had been running at the local track with her for the past month and a half. I wasn’t able to run the whole three miles, but I could do the walk/run enough to finish. Always well winded and struggling but I was able to complete the 3.1 miles.

So when the evening hour approached and the weather started to turn bad, I knew this might be an omen. First the temps dropped into the 30’s. Then the rain and sleet started to fall intermittently. The wind was cold enough to feel like a knife was slicing through to your bones. Lycra and spandex do not keep you very warm. Add a bad case of nerves and what a mess I was. To add insult to injury, I had to drive 45 minutes to the event; stopping for gas because someone in my family had used my car without refueling it!

We arrived at the race sight, went in to the registration table and that is where I saw the sign that stated that the race officials had placed a cut off time on the race of 45 minutes. My heart sank because that was close to the time I had been running in my training. Yes I know that is slow, but I was a beginner and I was trying. I began to work myself up big time after seeing that stupid sign. As if I wasn’t nervous enough, now I had a time constraint to work with. My daughter tried to reassure me but wasn’t being very successful. She later told me I sounded like our dog when he gets worked up and starts whining until he is howling in uncontrollable panic.

The course was a hilly road that would begin at the top of a hill, race down to a school parking lot, then back up the hills toward the start point and further towards more hills, circle a large shopping center, then back out towards the starting point, traversing more hills and ending in a church parking lot. Not the best course for a first-timer.

So in the biting cold, we lined up; about 100 racers in the dark. I moved to the back of the pack, my daughter was at the front. I didn’t know any of the other racers. They ranged from seasoned pros to what looked liked semi pros to me. Then the sound of the fog horn was blown and we were off. I pushed the button on my watch and away I went.

Right off the bat, I was elbowed, jostled and passed. I was able to keep up fairly well until about a ½ mile in. Then I just couldn’t keep the pace with those around me and started falling back. I slowed down to a walk long enough to catch my breath and faced my first hill. I chugged up the hill and then down it. I made the first curve and up the next hill. Slowly but still going. Through a school parking lot and back out the way I had just come. Back up the hills I had just trudged up and down. I checked my watch. Suffering Succotash!!!-the stupid thing wasn’t working! Curses!! I not only didn’t know my pace but I didn’t even know how far I’d come or had to go.

I saw officials, but no one was calling out my split times. No mile markers were to be found. It was dark and I was all alone in the cold except for a large man chugging along behind me looking every bit as miserable as I was. As we approached the starting point where a small crowd had gathered to cheer us on, the man passed me. Then the man veered off into the parking lot, went straight to his car, got in and drove off. What the Heck! Now that was definitely not encouraging. Barely half way in and mutinies were happening. I decided right then and there I was not quitting-no matter what!

Just a little past the start point, I met the front runner coming up the hill as he is returning to the finish line. Great! I am just barely halfway and he is finishing! Then as I go down the hill-still in the dark all by myself- I start meeting other runners as they come up the hill. At the bottom of the hill I meet my daughter as she is heading towards the finish line. I yell out to her that I realized that I wasn’t going to make the cut off time, but I was just going to finish it anyways; that I would see her at the finish line. She looks like she might be struggling a bit herself. As I start into the shopping center where there is a little more light, I see all the runners in front of me have already gone around the shopping center and have headed out. I don’t see anyone behind me. I trudge on. The officials are there calling out encouraging words spurring me on, but no one is calling out times or mileages. Lord will this ever be over!!

As I finally make it around the back of the shopping center and head back out to go up the last big hill, I start to see the other runners behind me. These runners have yet to even get into the shopping center. I am not the last runner!!! There are a dozen or so still behind me!! So I won’t be the only disqualified runner. Hoorah!

As I approach the top of the hill I run out of steam and walk yet again. I just want to finish this. I see my daughter appear out of the darkness. “What are you doing walking?” she yells. “Move it!” I tell her I know that I have missed the cutoff time. She yells back, “Mom it is only 36 minutes in. You have plenty of time! So MOVE IT! You’ve got this!!” I tell her I know she is lying to me just to get me moving. She yells back “NO I’M NOT! Let’s go!!” So I go!-Up the rest of the hill to the finish line. Coming in at 39 minutes; exhausted but within the cut-off time. My husband, other daughter and the crowd cheered me on. What a feeling that was to reach that finish line! I was slow as a turtle, but I did it! If my daughter hadn’t come back to urge me on, I may not have made the cut-off time. When the awards were given out later I was stunned to receive a second place trophy for finishing in the top three of my age division. That was hilarious! Granted there were only 6 in my age division, still a trophy is a trophy.

Wow what a night! I learned so many things that night. Such as to never give up. That my family has my back. How to reach down deep. To buy a better watch. To control those nerves better. That no matter what I may have looked like out there running, those people on the sidelines weren’t judging me. Even if they were it doesn’t matter because I was doing something. They were on the sidelines watching-not participating.

I have also found that runners are some of the best people you will ever meet. They are encouraging and very supportive of each other. I have attended dozens of meets and have seen every type of individual participating or attending. It is truly a sport for all. I love the motto: JUST DO IT!