Race Report - AT&T Giant Race

This was, without a doubt, the absolute WORSE race I have ever ran. Everything went wrong! Up until this race I had never had a race where something went totally, completely wrong, so the positive I will take out of this race is that I need to prepare and I need to get serious.

Unfortunately, EVERYTHING went completely wrong for me in this race! I often hear of stories where someone's experienced some great devastation that completely ruins their race strategy and/or end result. Usually only one thing goes wrong. Up until the AT&T Giant race, I don't think I had ever experienced that. I know I have low expectations and since I don't follow a "training plan" there isn't too much I can complain about - any poor performance is a direct result of my own failure to prepare properly (something I'm working on). Literally everything went wrong! I ran to the start line and got there much earlier than I usually get to the start line and for some reason I decided that I didn't need my water bottle so I showed up at the start line with nothing but myself! (Failure #1: dehydration). It was unusually warm and I hadn't properly hydrated the day before the race (late night at the ballgame enjoying beers and salty ball park food). By mile 1 I felt totally dehydrated and knew I was in trouble. Along miles 5-7 I experienced the worst stomach aches that continued until they forced me to drop to a run/walk around miles 10-12 due to the horrible side stitches. (Failure #2: poor nutrition). Usually I love love love hills on a course because I love doing hill repeats so I usually crush everyone as I tear up the hills. When we came to the second major hill on the course my toes started to go numb in my left foot. This sensation became progressively worse as the race went on and didn't let up until the next day. (Failure #3: wrong shoe choice). I registered for the race months in advance and was super excited about the race. The race was on the weekend following finals and when I registered I though it'd be the perfect way to celebrate the end of finals and the end of the quarter. I didn't think about how the two weeks up to the race are my crunch time and that I would be spending all my time studying, limiting my running time. I ended up ditching out on the last long run before the race and cutting my previous long run short because I simply didn't have time. Also, I was only able to get 6 runs in during the entire two weeks immediately preceding the race. Not only was I physically unprepared, mentally I hadn't done enough long runs and I wanted to die on the course, I had no confidence, doubted myself and questioned why I was even running when I knew I wasn't ready. (Failure #4 & 5: mentally & physically unprepared).

This race was a total bummer! I am so disappointed that I couldn't get it together or decide that maybe it wasn't the right time to run. The worse part about the race was definitely my left foot. I'm hoping I just chose shoes that weren't supportive enough for a half marathon (considering how unprepared I was) and that something isn't seriously wrong with my foot.

The race itself was amazing and I can't wait to go back next year for some payback! This was the inaugural half marathon and the organization and course route were great! I loved running into the park along the center and left field warning track, it was awesome! Next year I will be better prepared. Until then, I'd like to completely forget all about this awful race!

My thoughts on the run

From the tap of the trigger, to the torn tape of the finish line, each marathon runner is given 26 friendly reminders. Markers, as welcome as a friend's embrace or a word of encouragement. Anyone lucky and motivated enough to experience a marathon can attest to the importance of each of the 26 mile markers. Like an alphabet, a race is not complete without them.

I fell in love with running during my last few years in college and enjoy the simple act of lacing up my shoes and running out the door each morning. I run for fun but enjoy the competition of running against myself and that finish line clock. I have been privileged enough to experience races from the prestigious Boston Marathon, to the scenic Napa Valley Marathon and everywhere in between. I've run races of varying distances but prefer the long, grueling 26.2 mile marathon. Distance running provides me with plenty of time to think, observe and analyze the world around me, current events, and random happenings along the road.

I'm starting a log to track my day-to-day. I hope to cover everything from the random thoughts of my morning run to the newspaper-worthy.

I have a thirst for sports, a thirst for running, and a unique perspective to offer.

Join me on the road and run by when you can. As you run through days and months, it's always helpful to keep looking toward the next mentalmarker.