Race Day Report: Toughest 10K Galveston

This by far was a tough 10K, a normal run 6 miles is not that tough. Now 6 miles over the Galveston Causeway after 8a.m. with full on sun pounding on me… well let’s just say that what started to be a good strong run slowly took its toll on me…

The race start time was delayed by 40mins or so,  a race that should have started at 7:30am didn’t get moving until after 8am and in my mind I was feeling miserable about my run already…

Mile 1 – Finally off and running!! I will say that not being the fastest of runners I feel the slowest in the very beginning because everyone is whipping past me, most days I am okay with that. I’ve learned to keep my pace from the beginning and I will make it through my run a lot better.  This mile went by quick and painless.

Mile 2- Oh my gosh that bridge looked huge!! I tell you what it looked like marching ants climbing that bridge and I didn’t even want to look up. I kept checking my time hoping to keep it between a 12-13 minute mile as we headed upward-at some point I came cross Clarissa and fell into step with her for a few seconds she didn’t even realize I was there -LOL!  I kept going… I was so determined to keep my pace, although all I could think about was how I was supposed to lose weight before I took on the challenge of getting my big butt up another bridge… Epic fail!

Mile 3 – This was probably the most fun out it all… because it was the downhill part!! HA! And I got to see Alma and Lety headed back up the bridge well into their 4^th mile – those two are the speedy ones out of our bunch!

Mile 4 – I still had some determination left in me in mile four. I was still on track with my pace and I even caught up to Guada on our way up the bridge again. I was still on pace and for a fleeting moment I thought I could really pull this off.

Mile 5 – Sucked. It really did somewhere around here I started to just give up. Guada left me behind and I just could not make myself catch up to her! If you know me, you know I’d much rather be running at 6am on a Saturday morning than at 9am – I hate running in the full on sun. I was getting to the top of the bridge and you would think that the downhill would be a piece of cake. It turned out to be like someone poked a small tiny hole in my “this is awesome balloon” and slowly the air was let out and I was just about done.

Mile 6- Sucked more. All of my pacing and pushing was over. I was hot and in my mind – it was over! That just made me feel pretty defeated. It’s all fun and games to give you a cheerful re-cap of a race, but oh does it suck to have to re-live this one, knowing that I let my mind get the best of me during a race.

.2 miles- I just wanted it to be over and it was.

It was a bitter sweet for sure – Yay! I finished! I conquered that bridge and I was happy that I was able to do that. I always have to remind myself that year ago I would not have braved something like that and two years ago I was not even thinking about running to the end of my very short street.  I do realize I’ve come  a long way. Honestly though, I know I could have done better. I let my mind take over and the moment I did that the race in itself was over. I know that I am physically stronger and able but once I get my mind telling me I can’t do something it just tears me down.

The take away – Well folks there is a ½ marathon over yet another bridge waiting for me in less than 30days. One foot in front of the other and I will knock it out.

The forecast for this week- Beautifully sunny and afternoon runs in the mid 80’s. Suck it buttercup you live in South Texas...