We got up early, got dressed and headed off to the start line. Like always with the Disney races I have experienced, the crowds were monstrous. We stopped for a quick photo standing in front of the start line, and then trekked over to the start line party where we waited. And waited. And waited some more.
By the time we were allowed into the corrals, my feet were already on fire from standing around so much! Brina and I were in a different corral than Michelle and Kelly. The plan was for Michelle and Kelly to run separate, but for Brina and I to run together. You know what they say about the best laid plans, right?
Getting ready to start, I was feeling jittery, yet excited from the pre-race atmosphere. As our corral was moving up to the start line, I realized I had to use the bathroom. I always have to use the bathroom right before a race, but have learned that this is just nerves and I quickly lose the urge once I get moving, so I thought little of it. I reminded myself to calm down, took my inhaler and before I knew it, the fireworks signifying our start were going off.
As soon as Brina and I crossed the start line, we were shocked. It didn't feel like a race start. People were just moseying across the start line like a herd of cattle, slower than anything I had ever seen or experienced before. And this herd never seemed to break up and actually pick up speed. We darted and weaved. Brina would bounce through a group of people and I would do my best to follow, or at least keep her within a couple arm's distances away. At multiple points we were grabbing one another to steer through this crowd. Not only was it annoying, it was downright dangerous. Not even 10 feet into the race, we watched 2 people who were immediately in front of us collide and fall down, leaving us to jump around them lest we be taken out with them. Yikes! I knew the field for the race was ridiculously large and that the course would be packed, but this was something else entirely.
We had started near the back of our corral, and passed probably 3/4 of the people we started with before we even got to 3/4 of a mile... but the crowds never seemed to let up. And on top of the super slow pace, people were stopping in the middle of the right-of-way to take photos and ooh and aah over the Disney eye-candy. By mile 2, the pack had spread out enough for me to get a decent run/walk/run interval going and I was at my pre-injury pace, albeit wheezing very loudly, and coughing up a lot of gunk. I could tell that Brina was getting impatient with me for not being able to keep up, and for continually losing her in the crowd, so I asked her to go along without me, which she did.
And then something amazing happened. We hit a very dark area of the course and over the sound of my music, I started to hear something. It was the strangest sound, so I pulled my earbuds out, to take it all in. It was silence. People had stopped talking, and the course was almost silent except for the sound of sneakers hitting the pavement all around me. I had never heard anything like this before, and it was totally surreal. Unfortunately it didn't last long because we were soon at a water station and the chatter began, but I would have dealt with the insane crowds again and again in order to just experience this sound again. It's funny. I paid all this money for a Disney race, and the one experience from this event that will probably stick with me forever is that moment on an access road without music or entertainment, and just the sound of feet.
At something asinine like mile 5.8 or 5.9.
In a 10k race, this is the equivalent of stopping right before the finishline. The entire time I was in the bathroom, I was beating myself up. Obviously, I am my own worst enemy here, because the stop was REQUIRED, but still... I was taking every opportunity to be mean to myself. Personal note to self: be gentler on myself in the future.
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But I finished, and in the end, I guess that's all that really matters. I got the same medal as everyone else. And I also got some personal knowledge to boot. I'm not a big fan of the 10k distance.
Chip - 1:41:57
Pace - 16:27/Mile.
Day one of Glass Slipper Challenge finished. The Half the next day wouldn't be as "easy" on me.
I ran a half marathon in the beginning of the month with bronchitis...I know how terrible it is! I'm so glad you finished, though! It's hard with both injury and bronchitis :(
ReplyDeletethe more and more I run, the more and more i seem to be falling apart. this girl just wants a decent break here!
DeleteI'm sorry you were cramping up, and didn't have exactly the race you wanted. But you pushed through and that's all that matters! Congrats on your finish!
ReplyDeletethanks so much. i've only had this happen once before in a race, i hated it this time as much as the last time too. lol. but i still finished strong, and in the end, i think thats still something to be proud of.
DeleteI did the Disney World half this past January and was starting to get stomach cramps near the end. I think it was from the electrolyte drink they were serving. When we got to Epcot, I was so focused on finding a bathroom, I didn't even look around to see what was there. I can sympathize.
ReplyDeletei've learned that i cannot tolerate the yellow sports drinks (any brand) during races (and really ever), and that they give me an awful upset stomach. i could see how the drink might cause you problems.
DeleteSorry you didn't have the race you wanted, but you finished and that's all that matters! Be proud girl! I did like this race and I'd like to participate again next year!
ReplyDelete