Stats:
Garmin (official results not posted yet).
Distance: 3:18
Time: 20:23
Pace: 6:26 pace
Average HR 182
Place: 1st woman overall!
I was v nervous going into this race. I spiked a fever Thursday afternoon, and felt out of sorts Friday, too. The 3 of us went to Lowell on Saturday morning, and I felt fine. We got there early so that I could run the course as a warm up. I have been reading a lot about how important warm ups are in 5ks, and I think it made the race easier for me. Part of the reason why I wanted to run the course, was to see the Garmin mileage. I was pleasantly surprised to see that miles 1, 2, and 3 were right on with my Garmin. I was thrilled. But then the .1 turned into a .19! I was pissed. I talked to a race official who was hanging around the finish, and he confirmed that they had to add to the 5K so that the finish would be out of the way of the 10K race, which was 2 loops of the 5K...
After a few minutes of pity party I told myself to just go and run. The weather was gorgeous. I was wearing shorts. The course was the flattest possible, only 2 small hills in mile 1. It was 1/1/11. My boys were there with me. How awesome to race on such a day!
And off we went..
Mile 1: 6:24
I felt really good on this mile. I wanted it to be comfortable and I did not push the pace, even though lots of people were in front of me. I passed a woman on a hill, but otherwise, I was surrounded by men. It was....kind of fun:)
Mile 2: 6:17
I continued to feel great. I only looked at the average pace, which turned into 6:20 by the end of this mile. I ran step for step with a young men, and that made it fun.
Mile 3: 6:33
As the mile started, I felt great. My watch continued to tell me 6:20, and I knew that if I maintained it, I would be close to breaking 20 min even on a 3.2 course. But around 2.5 mile, I felt this awful nausea, and withing a minute I vomited chunks of oatmeal that I had eaten for breakfast 5 hours before the race. I continued to gag and vomit for the rest of the race, and slowed down in the process.
.17 (funny how it was .19 when I first ran it, and .17 in the race): 6:50
The gagging continued but I kept telling myself to just run, not overreact, because, really, nothing bad can happen. Right as I finished mile 3 I saw 19:02 in the official clock, but after that I stopped paying attention to the pace or time. I wanted to be done. As I turned the corner, with less than .1 to the finished, I slipped on ice and fell on my side. I immediately got up and ran to the finish, while hearing the announcer saying that I was first woman overall.
So I am not disappointed I did not break 20:00. On an accurate course, a 6:26 pace would have meant 19:56. I know only official results matter, but for me a Garmin result is just as good. Of course, I will continue trying to get an official sub 20, and I know I will. I am v close:)
What frustrates me is the nausea and vomiting that plague me in 5Ks. This time I ate 5 hours before the race, and that clearly was not enough. Aerobically I felt fine. My legs felt fine. HR for the first 2 miles was 175, which is about 10 beats below what my average HR is when I run hard. The higher HR for the last mile (182) and the last .17 was probably a bit of anxiety bc of the vomiting and gagging. So I am fit enough to get a sub 20:00, but my stomach is not. Suggestions? Thoughts? Should I run on an empty stomach (no breakfast)? Should I warm up even longer than 3 miles with strides?
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27 comments:
Ah!! GREAT Job-I've been stalking my blogroll for this post!
First of all, Super congrats on the 1st woman overall!!! OK-I HATE long 5K's. Long marathons-some time to work with, long 5K's completely disheartening. That being said if you're running a 20:23 on a long 5K you're AWESOME!!!!!
So-can't help you with the nausea although that sounds absolutely horrible. Good thing you were up in front and didn't have any poor fellow racers next to you to wear those chunks!!! I haven't had an issue like this-I struggle more with feeling like I'm going to pee my pants every time I bring my pace up-TMI....
Sub 20-in your pocket! Great race-better go spoil yourself!
oh my, you are fast! Wow! Way to start the year off right! I never could break 20 min in the 5k as hard as I tried...and I was always sick to my stomach in college when I had to race that thing. I don't think I've ever run a 5k since then....they hurt too bad. :) And the Kinvaras are great! I just ran 5 miles in them and I loved them.
Wow!
I was running the 10K and passed you as you crossed the 3 mi mark. I think I said something like, "almost home, just a bit more." I was the guy wearing the MVS singlet on your left.
You looked at me like I had three heads, but you buttoned up and finished well considering your fever.
Great job on the great finish!!
And a great placement for you. First female under any circumstances is awesome.
Congrats!
Wow - first female is great. I don't each before anything but a half marathon and longer. You probably don't need to eat for a 5k and you would be fine. Awesome time after puking and slipping on ice too! You couldn't ask for much more from yourself. Also, the 5k distance - the race director should have planned it differently if it was a conflict with the 10k. The point is to be accurate so I would not have been happy with that either.
Congratulations on your win and on toughing it out when not feeling well! One option might be to try liquid calories before the race, like a bottle of sports drink with Carbopro added for additional calories - maybe that would go easier on the stomach?
AHHHHHH!!! You are absolutely amazing!! 1st place woman....can I get your autograph! Bummer about the throwing up....you could have gotten under 20 if it wasn't for that!! Be super proud of yourself....what a great way to start the year!
WOW! great job, but it sounds like it wasn't very much fun. can't help with the stomach thing, but I don't think you need to eat pre race, many people don't. Happy New Year to you!
Seriously, you threw up and slipped on ice and still managed to have that super fast time and win your AG?? You are amazing and totally ROCK!
I'm sorry about the vomiting. I wish I had some advice for you, but I don't. I hope you're able to figure it out though b/c I know how horrible that is!
John , I remember you well! We ran together for 1.5 miles, before I started my vomiting spree. I remember you saying something, but in my hazy state I could not understand you!
Are you crazy? With vomiting and slipping and you still placed first overall -- that's fantastic! Congrats!
I ran the Lowell First Run too. The weather was great. I am not fast by any stretch of the imagination, but I managed to take a whole minute per mile off November's Turkey Trot race time (same exact course). I am thrilled with that for it means the treadmill work is paying off!
Congrats again and Happy New Year!
Nice work! And I think you should go on an empty stomach. But I don't know a hell of a lot, that's just what my intuition would tell me to do if I was in your shoes.
Typically stomach issues on the run are due to the fact that your intensity is high enough that all your blood is being directed to your working muscles rather than your stomach. I think your choices there are to either slow down or not have anything in your stomach. Since the former is not really an option in a 5K, you might try the latter. :)
That said, congrats! slipping and falling at the end was likely no fun, but nice job on your win!
You are a talented runner and will run your sub-20 soon enough. With experience, you'll be shooting for sub-19 before you know it.
Regarding breakfast, have you considered eating something with a low fiber content? Maybe that will sit better? I find that a soy protein shake works well for me.
By the way, when I was going after my first sub-20, I got close like you did several times and then - wham - 19:2x.
Also, a certified run course simply means that it is guaranteed not to be short, not that it is EXACTLY the distance. Remember too that you would need to run all of the tangents to get the shortest route possible. I know it's tough to do when you're shooting for a specific target, but don't get too worried about what your Garmin says unless it's way off.
I can't run on oatmeal:( like Alicia said try lower fiber toast
like bread with jam. No kcals is risky for me bc I would be pissed if I bonked!
You are awesome! Have fun- you will do it!
maybe not eating is somethign you should try next as everything else isn't working. i read an article on off this blog
http://ironmomma.com/2010/12/30/nutrition-made-even-easier/
where so many people eat fiber stuff for their prerace meal and it isn't that that really should work but many claim it does.
perhaps a visit to a nutritionist is in order?
First woman!!!! Congrats. It just keeps getting better and better for you!
I like running step for step with young men (especially when they are shirtless and ripped).
Those 5ks are cursed or something for you! Vomiting, slipping, long course... I hope you break the curse soon:)
I cannot even imagine puking during a race (or any run), it has never happened to me and I hope it never will, therefore I do not nay advice.
congrats on the win! great way to start 2011 :)
What a way to ring in the new year! Congrats! First overall woman is amazing!
Wow! What an incredible way to start the year! First woman in a 5K...sub-20 5K...that's all pretty sweet. My suggestion would probably be to forget the food altogether and maybe just take a GU/gel before the race. That should be enough energy to suffice. Glad you did so great regardless. Happy new year to you :)
OMG, you vomited AND fell and still got FIRST!!!! holy wow you are awesome :)
And seriously, one of these days you WILL get that official sub 20 - its making me crazy for you I bet you are even crazier over it! ;)
first AMAZING job, second hmm I wonder what the deal is with your stomach. does this happen when you normally do speedwork? maybe just race day nerves?
With the way you set goals, i think we all feel confident in seeing that sub 20 :)
I modified the post you sent me a bit just to try and really break out your days really clearly because I think that will super help people. It should go up on Thursday!
Nice job! Wish I could have run with you!
You definitely don't need to run a longer warm up. In high school and college, we often ran the course as a warm up and that was plenty. Our warm up was also very slow. The coach even stopped us at certain points to point out course stuff.
You definitely need to eat something. What to eat? I don't know. Maybe energy gels?
5K can be a difficult distance (if you're looking to run fast). I'd suggest running a 5K every week for 4-6 weeks. I'd be willing to bet that you get accustom to feeling sick and wind up running somewhere around 19:30.
Happy New Year!
Came here after reading your e-mail just now. Looks like we have some similar life goals for the marathon and half marathon. I'm not so sure I'm ready to meet those goals now but for sure hopefully when I have more time to devote when my kids are older. Excited to catch up more on your blog! I really appreciate your e-mail and comment today. You sound wise and full of knowledge.
Congrats on the win. You are definitely a winner all the time. You had fever, you fell down, and you were vomiting. Amazing to finish so fast.
I would say try not eating at all, or maybe just a piece of toast. I personally have to eat before running, but my hubby who was a BIG 5k racer in the past could NEVER eat prior to a race.
thanks for the recommendation about the 3 lbs first. You are right, that does sound better.
Congrats!!! Great stats even thru all the nausau and slipping on ice.
Have you tried an all liquid breakfast, like a small protein shake? I think oatmeal can be to fiberous and harder to digest, for race mornings.
For a 5k I don't think you really don't need much fuel during breakfast, like a pack of gu and some water should suffice.
:)
great job!
Wow! First female despite a fall and vomiting? Well done girl.
I think that you might have vomited because of that bug you had going on - though I see someone is recommending a protein shake for breakfast and that might be worth a shot as well? Alternatively - you could run a 5K on an empty stomach I think..
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