Winning some. . .

By Editor Jane • on June 25, 2009
Watermelons
Image via Wikipedia

I used to get nervous before races, but not any more.  I was focused. I had my plan on how to run the race.  Run relaxed for the first half, and do what I can to maintain pace on the back half.  It sounded easy enough.  In the past 10 weeks, I ran nearly 300 miles.  I ran with head winds, tail winds, crosswinds. drizzles, downpours, and sunny days. I did not, however, train in heat and humidity!

Warming up was not a problem.  As soon as I stepped out my hotel room I was sweating.  It was 82 degrees with 75% humidity, at least that is what weather.com said.  I booked a hotel near the start line so I could run there for my warm-up.  It was closer than I expected. I only ran for 6 minutes to get there.  My singlet was already wet.  Sweat was dripping down my shoulders and legs.  I thought to myself, ‘really, already though, this bad, the gun didn’t even go off yet.’

The gun went off and we started.  I was with the crowd for a while, then we thinned out as the race went on.  Every kilometer (km) was marked, 21 markers in all.  I was keeping track of my time per km, but counting them wore on me.  I felt I was running at a fairly good pace based on my workouts.  After a few kms I came to the first water station; they had Gatorade, water, and fruit: watermelon and bananas.  That’s right, watermelon.  I grabbed a water, in stride, and thought, while shaking my head, ‘who is really going to eat watermelon on a run, seeds, and the rind, just a mess.’  Well, 15 kms later, I was sitting on the back of a truck tearing some watermelon up, seeds and all.  That was the most delicious watermelon I ever had.

Now, I’m used to sweating when I run, I’m a relatively big guy, 91 kg, about 200 pounds.  But I had never perspired to the point that my sneakers were ankle weights.  Every step went, squish! squish!  I could feel the sweat in my socks squirt up between my toes, I know . . . eww, and this was going on since the 5 km mark.  I could see the sweat coming out of my sneaks as I progressed through my stride.  My sneakers couldn’t have been wetter if I left them in a pool weighed down with rocks.  I had a bandana wrapped around my head and another in my hand to wipe the sweat away.  It was a futile mission; I ended up putting the second bandana in my waistband.  When I finally got back the hotel room and took off my socks, my feet were pale.  Half of each foot looked like albino raisins.  I’ve stayed in pools for hours and never came out looking that wrinkled.  This race was an entirely new experience.

Just before the 17 km water station my vision started blurring, I couldn’t focus on anything.  I looked up and saw the scenery of palm trees and the ocean and thought, ‘I’m not here to die, not today.”  I grabbed a water took a sip and my legs stopped.  I saw a volunteer holding a piece of the watermelon and I was done.  I didn’t even want to stand up.  That’s when I made my worst mistake. I squatted.  I stood back up and nearly passed out.  That’s when I decided to sit on the back of a truck and savor that sweet sweet watermelon, seeds, and delicious rind.  Before I left I stashed two bananas in one pocket, a bottle of water in the other pocket, two cups of ice in my hands, one sponge under a shoulder strap, and another sponge on top of my head.  I could barely walk.  Memories of my run just before my 10 week training cycle came to mind ( . . .how am I going to get home, because my legs are done . . . ).  Those last 4 kms took nearly an hour!

2:14:54.  I finished 268 out of 488.  I was 31 out of 45 men aged 16-29.  Just because I’m closer the back end of the age group doesn’t mean I enjoy being in the back of the standings.

I humbled myself and bowed out to the heat and humidity. It got me this time.  I know for next year.    I am happy I finished and was not one of the casualties I saw on the side of the road.  But I’m still disappointed.  After the race I felt defeated and embarrassed.  Heat and Humidity got me this time, but not again.  A performance like this is making me take a step back and re-evaluate what I did leading up to it, and how I can improve for next year. Yeah, I’m going back.  There is a sour taste in my mouth whenever I think back to the race.  What saved me from blowing up in anger, besides being exhausted, was that I was in Thailand.

You have 300 days to save money, get your beach body ready, and book your trip.  Peace and Love

Jay

Related articles by Zemanta
Reblog this post [with Zemanta]

Thanks!

  • Recent Entries

    Leave a Comment