My inadvertent trail run

Have you ever had a race where you go in with certain expectations and ends with you just being happy you finished?  That was my run yesterday.  I wanted to do a 5k on my birthday so when I found one that was inexpensive and included a medal I signed up.  My last run before Saturday I had two miles that were under a 15 minute pace.  This may sound painfully slow to most, but for me, this is a huge improvement in my pace.  Driving to the race I actually thought "wouldn't it be cool to get a PR on my birthday?"  It was raining, but I've run in the rain before without any major issues.  I was also wearing my cute new Sparkle Skirt featuring Hogwarts Running Club and figured that would give me extra motivation. 

Before the race started.

As we approached the starting point, I realized at least part of the course was on grass.  The start/finish line was on a grassy hill.  It made me wonder how much of the rest of the course was going to be a trail run versus pavement (which is what I am used to running on).


Well, shortly into the run I realized that about 75% or more of the course was on grassy fields, bumpy trails and went up and down several hills.  Living in Pittsburgh I am no stranger to hills.  However, trail hills are a different ball game.  Especially in the rain.  The grass was slippery and the trail was muddy with things like rocks and roots.  There were several downhill portions that would have really had me cruising if they were paved roads, but instead I inched down because I was terrified of falling.  (especially with the ten mile race next weekend).  I actually did start to slip down one of them but grabbed on to a tree that helped me stay upright. 

A steep, muddy hill.

The uphill wasn't much better as there were some pretty steep hills (or at least hills that were steeper than I was expecting).  I actually worked to try and run up some of them if they were just grass.  I knew my pace was way off because of how careful I was taking it on many of the hills, so why not try to make up at least a little bit of time on some of the "easier" hills.  It didn't help that I was literally the last runner going through.  That meant 100+ others had trudged through the area making it even messier than it had been. 

This was the first race ever where I honestly wanted to quit.  I had so much going against me.  The weather sucked, I couldn't hear my interval timer, I had regular running shoes on and not more appropriate trail shoes (which I actually do have from when I was in a hiking club back in Buffalo) and there was only one other person even remotely close to try and use as a motivation to catch up to.  (This is often something that keeps me going - trying to catch up to others and pass them).  There were several times that I looked around trying to figure out where the finish line was and how I could get there easily.  Or at least get back to the parking lot.  Towards the end of the race I even ran right past my car and contemplating getting in (there was still at least a half mile left in the race at that point).  But I knew there was a finisher medal.  And besides that, I'm not a quitter.  I came to run a 5k and gosh darn it, I was going to finish a 5k. 

Official time 48:44.12

When I approached the area where the finish line was I got excited.  Then I realized we still had to make a loop up a hill, around a picnic shelter and then back down the hill.  All on grass.  I was frustrated, tired and cold but I stuck with it and made the loop.  Then I crossed the finish line.  I'm usually grinning ear to ear when I do.  Yesterday I'm sure I managed to crack a little smile, but that was because I was proud of my perseverance for actually sticking it out when I didn't feel like it.  It wasn't the feeling of joy and rush of endorphins that I usually get from a race finish.  Instead it was a feeling of accomplishment.  That might sound cheesy or unwarranted for a silly 5k, but in some ways I felt more accomplished yesterday after this 5k then I did after my half marathon.   I've mentioned before that running is very much a mental sport.  That cheesy "whether you think you can or you think you can't, you are right" phrase is so very true when it comes to running.  If you approach a run or a race with a certain goal in mind you are likely to achieve it.  But if you approach that same race or training run with the attitude that it is going to suck, it likely will.  I wasn't mentally prepared for the conditions.  I thought I was going to have a nice, fairly easy morning run.  And I let the conditions get to me mentally.  I started to overthink the ground and my footing which slowed me down.  It also made me doubt myself.  However, I wouldn't let the self doubt win.  I knew that I HAD to cross that finish line even if the results weren't pretty.  So I did.  Even though they had started to tear everything down and I was basically last to cross.  But I did it (and have the medal to prove it).

I suppose my point in this post is that even when you encounter obstacles (both in life and in running) it is important to keep moving forward so that you can reach your goals.  Yesterday's race wasn't a pretty finish, but it was a finish.  It gave me a sense of accomplishment and a fun new medal.  Had I cut out early or gotten into my car, I know I would have had a lot of regrets and wonders of what could have been.  Don't let self doubt and fear cripple you.  Keep moving forward and you will cross that finish line.  And you won't regret it.