#18 - Check!

Number 18 on my list of 101 things to do in 1,001 days was to run the Vulcan Run again.  The last time I did this run was in 2008.  Back then, I completed the 6.22 miles in 1:01:46, a 9:57 per mile pace.  Back then, I was running all the time.  I was VERY nervous about running this race because I haven’t run 6.22 miles since I was training for my half-marathon that was interrupted by my ankle and elbow breakage from the Race for the Cure.  This was all in 2010, so it has been close to 2 years since I’ve run that far.  The last time I ran at all was the 5k Race for the Cure two weeks prior to the Vulcan Run.  I even told my husband that I would go pick up my packet so that I could get the shirt, but that I didn’t want to run because I knew I would do MISERABLY.  He convinced me to do it though and told me not to worry about the time and that I would just have to walk a little more.

So I got ready on Saturday morning for the race!

I had forgotten how nice it was to run this race.  The Race for the Cure had close to 15,000 people running just in Birmingham alone.  This race didn’t even have 1/4 of that amount (I’m estimating) so parking wasn’t a problem and neither was crossing the start line (during the RFC, it took me close to two minutes just to cross the start line because there were that  many people doing it).

I started out running and was trying to keep a decent pace.  I got Justin’s watch so I could keep up with my pace to make sure I wasn’t running too fast but honestly forgot to look at it until mid-mile 2 and realized that I was running too fast and slowed down.  Too fast for me is kind of slow for most runners, but I’m ok with that.  Even on my best running day, my pace is somewhere between 9-10 minute mile.  So when I saw that my first two miles were both below 10 minute miles, I had to slow down.  And it came at a good time because that’s when we hit the hills :)

 

6.24 miles was completed in 1:03:50.  So basically about two minutes slower than when I did it in 2008.  If 2 minutes is the only time increase I have after four years and a baby, I’ll take it :)

My overall pace was 10:18 and I was very happy with that!  Even though I’m fairly certain I was like 1,000th place.

My miles and their times.  Killed it in the first two miles.  Slow as crap in mile 3 :)

I can’t even explain how much I was relying on God to get me through this.  Particularly around mile 5 1/2.  I was losing it at that point.  I didn’t know if I was going to make it because my right knee was killing me!  I just kept praying for Him to get me through and I would give Him the glory.  He did and I am :)

I will say that I will never do a race that far without training again.  I literally couldn’t bend my right knee the rest of the day.  I couldn’t walk up or downstairs to put Carter to bed so Justin had to.  I see now why he is worthless after his races!  Lucky for me, the pain only lasted that day.  I was perfectly fine yesterday other than some sore muscles.