My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
-
- Lynn Williams
- Posts: 15482
- Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:11 pm
- Location: London
My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
So, the last time I ran the ORW 10K in 2009, I finished in 1:12:29. This time, I was looking to finish much closer to 60 minutes.
The day before and the day of the race I was feeling pretty asthmatic, which was making me nervous for the race...but I chalked it up to pre-race jitters and "in my head" symptoms.
My roommate A, her brother B and I went to the race together. The loose plan was that Avis, myself and A were going to run together. B had a goal of 50 minutes, so he was in an entirely different corral. Pre-race, I had taken my puffer 4 times. I was feeling as though it was hard to breathe, and that was making me nervous. It was wonderful to see Avis in the corral, to put a face to the name and to know we were going to run together. The gun went off and it felt like it took us forever to cross that starting line (it did probably take about 5 minutes). My garmin was dead before the race (I should have trusted my instinct to charge it!), so even though I was wearing it, I wasn't going to be able to rely on it
We head out, feeling pretty good, my legs feel great, and A tells us we are about 7 minute kms - perfect. I can do that for the 9.5k, and kick it up for the last 500m. I was happy with where we were pace wise, though it felt really difficult to breathe doing this pace. I was trying to listen to my body and stay with Avis and A. Those two were just a few pace strides ahead of me and I was trying my best to stay with them. I think Avis and I must have been leap frogging as we zig zagged through the crowd, since we each were trying to keep up with the other We saw ChrisL, but he was too busy chatting away with someone else to notice us Thankfully while I started yelling "Chris", my former boss Lisa saw me and jumped up and down to cheer for me. How exciting!!
Then, we saw what we thought was the first water station up ahead. I said I was going to move to the side when we got there and take my puffer. Bad news to have to take it around the 3k mark, but I had to listen to my body. This is where A and I lost Avis. I don't think she saw me pull off to the side, and I couldn't see her when we got back in the crowd.
Framboisine pulled up next to us shortly after, but ran her own race. She, too, had tried to get ChrisL to notice her but failed She did tell us she saw Avis behind us. I yelled out "Pick up the pace Avis! Come catch us!" I really wanted her to be running with us, but I don't think she heard. Knowing what I know now, I would have liked to have gone back for her... hindsight is 20/20 right? I knew Al was at the 5K mark, and even though my lungs begged me to stop, I had to keep going. We went up the on-ramp to Bronson Street and I said to A "don't stop running. We'll pick off a bunch of runners going up this hill. You and I know we can run this hill. It's nothing compared to what we did in Half-marathon training!". And I was right. We went up there with relative ease, passing many other runners. At the top, we saw Al who rooted us on. When we got down to the other side of the canal there was a woman yelling "you're almost there". I really wanted to go over and drop-kick her. I was certain at 5.5km I was *not* almost at the finish line. I was wheezy, angry, and hurting. I didn't like her at all. I'm sure she meant well, so it's probably a good thing I didn't have the energy to drop-kick her
Around here I told A to run ahead. I was cramping and needed to catch my breath. I walked for a minute or 2, and then kept running. I knew I wasn't going to beat my 2009 time if I walked. I needed to keep running. I was thinking of one of the signs Al, T and I had made the night before "If you walk you'll still be hurting". It's true. So run I did. Just before I got to Pretoria Bridge I really wanted to quit and find a medic. I knew my asthma wasn't bad enough, but I was just feeling... done. I felt awful. Mentally I was not there. Physically I wasn't there. It was just a mess. But, Jo-jo and Spirit were going to be at Pretoria so I had to keep going, at least to see them.
And see them I did. They didn't see me, but I cut across the crowd of runners to get to the side of the Bridge they were cheering on. I gave them each a hug, and I was so grateful they were there. I needed to see someone at that point. I needed that something. Spirit and Jo-jo, thank you. You have no idea what it meant to see you both there that evening. It's probably the only reason I finished the race.
After seeing them I knew I could finish. I kept seeing someone ahead of me and deciding they weren't going to beat me. I slowly passed a runner here and there, and kept moving forward. As soon as I saw the 500m sign, I gave it all I had. I pushed and finished with a chip time of 1:11:12.7.
As soon as I crossed the finish line I went to see the medics. I had had 6 puffs of my puffer, and didn't really want to put more in me. I wanted to slow my HR and my breathing down, and wanted to be near medics just in case. Eventually I got my wheezing under control and felt a little better. I walked to grab some food and find A and B - and Avis found us moments later. We took some finishers pictures together, and gave Avis back to C before heading back home. That race was by far the hardest one I have run. I just couldn't get my body to do what I wanted. I was so upset afterwards. I know I "PB'd" but it didn't feel like it. It felt hard, and awful, and like a death march.
Now, I am on day 2 of being sick. I have slept 40 of the past 48 hours, and understand why that 10K was so difficult. My poor body was fighting off something, and I was pushing it....
The day before and the day of the race I was feeling pretty asthmatic, which was making me nervous for the race...but I chalked it up to pre-race jitters and "in my head" symptoms.
My roommate A, her brother B and I went to the race together. The loose plan was that Avis, myself and A were going to run together. B had a goal of 50 minutes, so he was in an entirely different corral. Pre-race, I had taken my puffer 4 times. I was feeling as though it was hard to breathe, and that was making me nervous. It was wonderful to see Avis in the corral, to put a face to the name and to know we were going to run together. The gun went off and it felt like it took us forever to cross that starting line (it did probably take about 5 minutes). My garmin was dead before the race (I should have trusted my instinct to charge it!), so even though I was wearing it, I wasn't going to be able to rely on it
We head out, feeling pretty good, my legs feel great, and A tells us we are about 7 minute kms - perfect. I can do that for the 9.5k, and kick it up for the last 500m. I was happy with where we were pace wise, though it felt really difficult to breathe doing this pace. I was trying to listen to my body and stay with Avis and A. Those two were just a few pace strides ahead of me and I was trying my best to stay with them. I think Avis and I must have been leap frogging as we zig zagged through the crowd, since we each were trying to keep up with the other We saw ChrisL, but he was too busy chatting away with someone else to notice us Thankfully while I started yelling "Chris", my former boss Lisa saw me and jumped up and down to cheer for me. How exciting!!
Then, we saw what we thought was the first water station up ahead. I said I was going to move to the side when we got there and take my puffer. Bad news to have to take it around the 3k mark, but I had to listen to my body. This is where A and I lost Avis. I don't think she saw me pull off to the side, and I couldn't see her when we got back in the crowd.
Framboisine pulled up next to us shortly after, but ran her own race. She, too, had tried to get ChrisL to notice her but failed She did tell us she saw Avis behind us. I yelled out "Pick up the pace Avis! Come catch us!" I really wanted her to be running with us, but I don't think she heard. Knowing what I know now, I would have liked to have gone back for her... hindsight is 20/20 right? I knew Al was at the 5K mark, and even though my lungs begged me to stop, I had to keep going. We went up the on-ramp to Bronson Street and I said to A "don't stop running. We'll pick off a bunch of runners going up this hill. You and I know we can run this hill. It's nothing compared to what we did in Half-marathon training!". And I was right. We went up there with relative ease, passing many other runners. At the top, we saw Al who rooted us on. When we got down to the other side of the canal there was a woman yelling "you're almost there". I really wanted to go over and drop-kick her. I was certain at 5.5km I was *not* almost at the finish line. I was wheezy, angry, and hurting. I didn't like her at all. I'm sure she meant well, so it's probably a good thing I didn't have the energy to drop-kick her
Around here I told A to run ahead. I was cramping and needed to catch my breath. I walked for a minute or 2, and then kept running. I knew I wasn't going to beat my 2009 time if I walked. I needed to keep running. I was thinking of one of the signs Al, T and I had made the night before "If you walk you'll still be hurting". It's true. So run I did. Just before I got to Pretoria Bridge I really wanted to quit and find a medic. I knew my asthma wasn't bad enough, but I was just feeling... done. I felt awful. Mentally I was not there. Physically I wasn't there. It was just a mess. But, Jo-jo and Spirit were going to be at Pretoria so I had to keep going, at least to see them.
And see them I did. They didn't see me, but I cut across the crowd of runners to get to the side of the Bridge they were cheering on. I gave them each a hug, and I was so grateful they were there. I needed to see someone at that point. I needed that something. Spirit and Jo-jo, thank you. You have no idea what it meant to see you both there that evening. It's probably the only reason I finished the race.
After seeing them I knew I could finish. I kept seeing someone ahead of me and deciding they weren't going to beat me. I slowly passed a runner here and there, and kept moving forward. As soon as I saw the 500m sign, I gave it all I had. I pushed and finished with a chip time of 1:11:12.7.
As soon as I crossed the finish line I went to see the medics. I had had 6 puffs of my puffer, and didn't really want to put more in me. I wanted to slow my HR and my breathing down, and wanted to be near medics just in case. Eventually I got my wheezing under control and felt a little better. I walked to grab some food and find A and B - and Avis found us moments later. We took some finishers pictures together, and gave Avis back to C before heading back home. That race was by far the hardest one I have run. I just couldn't get my body to do what I wanted. I was so upset afterwards. I know I "PB'd" but it didn't feel like it. It felt hard, and awful, and like a death march.
Now, I am on day 2 of being sick. I have slept 40 of the past 48 hours, and understand why that 10K was so difficult. My poor body was fighting off something, and I was pushing it....
When your legs get tired, run with your heart.
Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of your chance to be extraordinary.
Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of your chance to be extraordinary.
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Poor you, no wonder you had such a hard time racing. Hope you start to feel better soon.
I wanna live like there's no tomorrow
Love, like I'm on borrowed time
It's good to be alive, yeah....Jason Gray
Running is a conversation with your body. Sometimes you listen and sometimes you tell it to stop whining and do something. - Ian
Love, like I'm on borrowed time
It's good to be alive, yeah....Jason Gray
Running is a conversation with your body. Sometimes you listen and sometimes you tell it to stop whining and do something. - Ian
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Congratulations on pushing through it al, to the end, l Denise ... such a trooper you are ....
Feell better sooner than later, 'k ...
Feell better sooner than later, 'k ...
Race Results: http://itsmyrun.com/index.php?display=p ... unner=HCiD
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Wow, Miss*Smiles! You PB'd with asthma and cold germs! You would have really shattered your old record, had you been healthy. And yeah, I got sick of people shouting, "You're almost there!" when we knew darn well we weren't.
It was fun running with you for the first three kilometres, and yes, I do believe we each have a faster 10k in us! I look forward to our "do-over" race. Now take care, and get well soon! xxoo
It was fun running with you for the first three kilometres, and yes, I do believe we each have a faster 10k in us! I look forward to our "do-over" race. Now take care, and get well soon! xxoo
"We are made of dreams and bones."
--The Garden Song
"By perseverance, the snail reached the ark."
--Charles H. Spurgeon
"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
--Pablo Picasso
--The Garden Song
"By perseverance, the snail reached the ark."
--Charles H. Spurgeon
"I am always doing that which I cannot do, in order that I may learn how to do it."
--Pablo Picasso
- scrumhalfgirl
- Lynn Williams
- Posts: 19368
- Joined: Sun Oct 08, 2006 11:50 am
- Location: Ottawa
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
I'm so sorry to hear about your tough day. You are one stronger runner and fighter!
I think you and Avis need to reunite for a second kick at the can!
I think you and Avis need to reunite for a second kick at the can!
Jesse's 2017 Plans
April - Boston Marathon
May - Sporting Life Ottawa 10K
May - Ottawa Half Marathon
April - Boston Marathon
May - Sporting Life Ottawa 10K
May - Ottawa Half Marathon
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
You poor darling! I was really worried about you! So proud of you for pushing on! Hope you feel better soon, and I hope you find another 10 k for a do- over!
http://connect.garmin.com/profile/trixiee14
Why fit in when you were born to stand out?
~ Dr. Suess~
Life is short. Drink the good wine first!
Why fit in when you were born to stand out?
~ Dr. Suess~
Life is short. Drink the good wine first!
- Spirit Unleashed
- Lynn Williams
- Posts: 21772
- Joined: Thu Jun 26, 2008 7:38 am
- Location: The Texas Tropics
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Athlete....Maniac 973....Marathon Maniac 6645
Live the most amazing life you can live - La
marathon runners are awesomeness personified - Ian
Bucket list: http://www.tassietrailfest.com.au/
http://ultramonk.blogspot.com/
Live the most amazing life you can live - La
marathon runners are awesomeness personified - Ian
Bucket list: http://www.tassietrailfest.com.au/
http://ultramonk.blogspot.com/
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
After all that, thank you so much for coming out the next morning to support the rest of us!
A PB is a PB is a PB, as someone wise once told me
A PB is a PB is a PB, as someone wise once told me
If it ain’t broke, run through it -- Strider
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
jes wrote:After all that, thank you so much for coming out the next morning to support the rest of us!
A PB is a PB is a PB, as someone wise once told me
+1. You are a tough girl. It's amazing how your body won't let you know you're full-blown sick until the day or two AFTER the race. Get well and rest lots. Thanks SO much for coming to support us on Sunday in the glaring sun.
Carm
- CAW
- Lynn Williams
- Posts: 14108
- Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 12:29 pm
- Location: Just follow the yellow brick road
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Holy Crow! I did not realize the true struggles you had, let alone that you PB'd despite them!!
Girl, you get EXTRA size5 fruit and crepes (and hugs) when you get here!!!
I am just so. Damned. Proud. Of. You!!!
Girl, you get EXTRA size5 fruit and crepes (and hugs) when you get here!!!
I am just so. Damned. Proud. Of. You!!!
~Kara~
"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself."
— Thich Nhat Hanh
"To be beautiful means to be yourself. You don’t need to be accepted by others. You need to accept yourself."
— Thich Nhat Hanh
- orleansrunner1962
- Jerome Drayton
- Posts: 7583
- Joined: Tue Oct 07, 2008 8:12 pm
- Location: Orleans, ON
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Great job pushing through - sorry to hear you are sick though -- take care and get better real fast!!
2014:
Mar - Around the Bay 30 km - Done
May - Sulphur Spring 100 miler - DNS
Sept - Army HM
Sept/Oct - 50 miler
Oct - Pace Bunny - Toronto Scotia Waterfront
Dec - Reggae Marathon in Jamaica
Mar - Around the Bay 30 km - Done
May - Sulphur Spring 100 miler - DNS
Sept - Army HM
Sept/Oct - 50 miler
Oct - Pace Bunny - Toronto Scotia Waterfront
Dec - Reggae Marathon in Jamaica
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Good job on your PBS. That sucks about your asthma and getting sick. I hope a few days of rest will do the trick.
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Good job, all you can do is try and keep going and listen to your body. I am very lucky that my asthma is not as bad as yours. I haven't had to use my inhaler in almost 6 months.
Next up:
Feb 2015 - Castaway Key 5k
March 2015 - St. Patrick's Day 10k
May 2015 - ORW 1/2 Marathon
Feb 2015 - Castaway Key 5k
March 2015 - St. Patrick's Day 10k
May 2015 - ORW 1/2 Marathon
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Tough tough race. Not many things worse than the feeling of not being able to breathe. I know you'll be back at NCM to run a 10km (or more!) that will leave you feeling satisfied. Great job.
Vancouver 2012 Done!
Considering CIM 2012
Considering CIM 2012
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Oh Denise - get well soon!
It's not the size of the dog in the fight...it's the size of the fight in the dog! 11K Marker post - 2010 ATB.
Introducing 2017
GoodLife Half Marathon.
TBD
Introducing 2017
GoodLife Half Marathon.
TBD
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Sounds like you had a very tough race and I'm proud of you for finding the balance between pushing enough and pushing too much.
Feel better soon!
Feel better soon!
"Keep Going. Never Give Up" - Spencer
"Have a little faith in yourself and watch the magic begin" - Ironboy
Plans for 2014:
Run for Women 5K, May 11
Ottawa Race Weekend 10K, May 24
"Have a little faith in yourself and watch the magic begin" - Ironboy
Plans for 2014:
Run for Women 5K, May 11
Ottawa Race Weekend 10K, May 24
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Congratulations again, and what a tough finish! I hope you get those breathing issues down.
Support me in my fundraising for the Boston Marathon, Boston Public Library team:
https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign ... iferwolf11
https://www.crowdrise.com/o/en/campaign ... iferwolf11
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Congrats on finishing the race. It is wonderful getting a pb.
If you have to ask me why I Run, You probably wouldn't understand!
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
I think this is a great race report...cuz I'm mentioned in it
Seriously...you were looking pretty happy when we saw you...guess it's the Maniac Power. I can relate..I've had a couple races where Maniacs gave me an amazing boost to help me along the way.
You're an amazing RM supporter...so it's nice to be able to pay it back to you. Yep...you ROCK!!!!
Seriously...you were looking pretty happy when we saw you...guess it's the Maniac Power. I can relate..I've had a couple races where Maniacs gave me an amazing boost to help me along the way.
You're an amazing RM supporter...so it's nice to be able to pay it back to you. Yep...you ROCK!!!!
Technophobe Extraordinaire
"Princess" J0-JO...The Awesome Running Machine.
"a precious, unique and quirky individual"...definition given by a Toronto Cop
An Ever Loyal and Devoted Official Doonst Fan.
"In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer" -Albert Camus
"Keep Going. Never Give Up." Spencer
"Princess" J0-JO...The Awesome Running Machine.
"a precious, unique and quirky individual"...definition given by a Toronto Cop
An Ever Loyal and Devoted Official Doonst Fan.
"In the midst of winter, I finally learned that there was in me an invincible summer" -Albert Camus
"Keep Going. Never Give Up." Spencer
- horselady
- Bill Crothers
- Posts: 3044
- Joined: Sun Mar 16, 2008 8:27 am
- Location: Merrickville, Ontario
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Yowza! Way to push through young lady! I hope you are feeling better though!
Congratulations on the PB even if it felt crappy to get it...you did it.
Now rest up, we have an all nighter coming up!
Congratulations on the PB even if it felt crappy to get it...you did it.
Now rest up, we have an all nighter coming up!
" The outside of a horse is good for the inside of a man" Winston Churchill"
2013 Plans so Far
Princess Half Marathon Orlando Feb 23
Run for the Reach Water StationVolunteer April 14
Spring Fling Running Thing April 21 10k
Gran Fondo Road Race July 20th
Ride the Rideau 100km Sept 8
Army 1/2 Marathon Sept 22
http://ridetherideau.ca/give
Smattering of horse shows
2013 Plans so Far
Princess Half Marathon Orlando Feb 23
Run for the Reach Water StationVolunteer April 14
Spring Fling Running Thing April 21 10k
Gran Fondo Road Race July 20th
Ride the Rideau 100km Sept 8
Army 1/2 Marathon Sept 22
http://ridetherideau.ca/give
Smattering of horse shows
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
You fought through a lot for that PB! Nicely done and get well soon!
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Great job under tough circumstances!
2014: the year of new awesomeness!
Rogers Insurance Run for L'Arche Half March 22 - done
Calgary Marathon Wild Rose 50k June 1 - done
Stampede Road Race 5k July 6 - done
Magrath sprint tri July 12 - done!!
Jog for the Bog 10k July 27 - done
Seawheeze Half Marathon August 23 - done
Subaru Banff Sprint Triathlon September 6 - done
Blitz Duathlon September 21 - registered
Portland Marathon October 5 - registered
Rogers Insurance Run for L'Arche Half March 22 - done
Calgary Marathon Wild Rose 50k June 1 - done
Stampede Road Race 5k July 6 - done
Magrath sprint tri July 12 - done!!
Jog for the Bog 10k July 27 - done
Seawheeze Half Marathon August 23 - done
Subaru Banff Sprint Triathlon September 6 - done
Blitz Duathlon September 21 - registered
Portland Marathon October 5 - registered
-
- Lynn Williams
- Posts: 15482
- Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2008 6:11 pm
- Location: London
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Thanks everyone
I was a bit sulky in my race report. I was so dissapointed with everything, but the more time that passes, the more I am OK with the results and the day. The weekend was really great, and I know I have a better 10K time in me. So, upwards and onwards we go!
I was a bit sulky in my race report. I was so dissapointed with everything, but the more time that passes, the more I am OK with the results and the day. The weekend was really great, and I know I have a better 10K time in me. So, upwards and onwards we go!
When your legs get tired, run with your heart.
Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of your chance to be extraordinary.
Overcome the notion that you must be regular. It robs you of your chance to be extraordinary.
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Nice report and an excellent effort in tough conditions. Also I was really pumped to see your and the other maniacs cheering us on Sunday! Thanks!
Re: My Ottawa Race Weekend 10K
Wow, you really did well considering your asthma issues and sickness coming on. And you still PB'd! The heat on SAturday probaby didn't help matters either. You should be proud!
2014 Races:
Around the Bay 30K - DNS
ORW Marathon - 3:38:11 - PB & first BQ!!!!
Personal Bests:
Marathon - May 2014 - 3:38:11-----30K - Mar 2013 - 2:37:42----1/2 Marathon - Oct 2013- 1:38:53----10K - Oct 2012 - 45:31-----5K - Feb 2009 - 22:21
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