Race for Hope DC 5K

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Race for Hope DC 5K - Run5k

View Member's Race Log View other race reports

Washington, D.C., Washington, D.C.
United States

Total Time = 00m
Overall Rank = /
Age Group =
Age Group Rank = 0/

Pre-race routine:

Hit the Metro to Federal Triangle (Penn Ave), drank a bottle of water. I forgot to go to packet pick-up the day before, so I made my way through the sea of people to find my packet and barely made it to bag drop before it closed and the race started.

I made my way up to the front of the pack as most of the race was groups of walkers/survivors, etc. Took some pics of the Survivor start, started holding back tears. Thought I saw Mayor Fenty warming up, and could have sworn it was him (later looked at entrant list and it was probably his brother, Shawn, unless the Mayor signed up that morning). Took some pics for a lovely man (Johns Hopkins survivor: small world, we know the same people) and his wife who flew in for the event. Touching story and this couple was so sweet. They were telling me not to cry, that it was a happy day.

Event warmup:

Jogging to and from packet pick-up, bag drop and start line. TONS of people.

Run

26m 28s
3.11 miles
08m 31s min/mile

Comments:

Physically I felt ok, mentally, I knew this was going to be tough. My Garmin couldn't pick up a signal since it was raining steadily before the race even started, so I was going off RPE and my watch. Most of the first mile was spent jogging around people. Couldn't find the fist mile marker, I guesstimate I hit 1.5 miles about 11min, as that is where the water stop was. Walked about 30 seconds and had a glass of water.
The turnaround at the water station is where it got hard. Seeing the groups of slow joggers was starting to get to me. I hit mile 2 at 16:11. slower than I wanted, but I was ok. My knee (medial side) started burning a little before this, but I tried to ignore it. What is 1 more mile? The top of my calf/behind my knee started cramping (making me think I have some kind of hamstring issue going on).

Then it went downhill...and raining harder...
On the other side of the road was the Johns Hopkins Brain Tumor Center Team. HUGE representation, they were carrying a parade-like banner. It literally took my breath away. I started tearing up, tried to run again and I couldn't. Started cussing myself that I didn't have my inhaler, but then realized it was probably because I was upset, not a real asthma attack. Finished the last mile, but had to take another walk break about 3 blocks from the finish.

What would you do differently?:

1. As always, train.
2. Get my mental game in order. I let my emotions control me today. Maybe its what I needed, but dealing with these emotions before or after the race would be better than on the course.
3. Drop the 15lbs I gained this past year.

Post race

Warm down:

Got a bottle of water and a banana. Picked up my bag from the drop. Walked to Metro Center stop, where I wanted to hit my favorite cafe in this part of town, but it was closed. I didn't need that NY black&white cookie anyway. :)

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Being a woman who cries.

Seriously, I have NEVER cried during a race! Never. At least I was crying for patients, victims, survivors and their familes and not for myself.

Event comments:

This was a big race with a TON of support. There were many tents with pre and post race activities. A great turnout for such a bad weather day.

If I'm here next year, I will definitely do this race again. Hopefully not by myself as I'll need emotional support.

Profile Album

Last updated: 2009-05-02 12:00 AM

Running
00:26:28 \| 03.11 miles \| 08m 31s min/mile
Age Group:	0/
Overall:	0/
Performance:	Average
Course:	Up Pennsylvania Avenue, around the Capitol, back down Pennsylvania Ave.
Keeping cool	Good	Drinking	Not enough

Post race
Weight change:	%
Overall:
Mental exertion [1-5]	1
Physical exertion [1-5]	3
Good race?

Evaluation
Course challenge	Just right
Organized?	Yes
Events on-time?	Yes
Lots of volunteers?	Yes
Plenty of drinks?	Yes
Post race activities:	Good
Race evaluation [1-5]	4