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A small hometown race

Keep Running Girl

Entry posted by Keep Running Girl ·

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I suck at Race Reports

I’m not really sure how to explain New York. 

Let me go back.

2015 I had to defer.  It hurt.  A lot.  I devoted to day to being there for someone I was sort of in a complicated situation with.  His race blew up and I supported him through a five and a half hour finish.  It hurt not racing.  There were a lot of emotions with him too.  I was honestly afraid the race would always be associated with this going forward.

2016 I ran the first 16 before a planned drop.  I tried to wave at my friend from the 59th St Bridge to cheer him up.  I was grateful that fivestarks had chosen that year to come up and cheer the race and graciously offered to trip me if I decided to try to finish.  I was overwhelmed by all the support I got, people that checked in, well wishes and encouragement.  I’m pretty sure that money changed hands when I actually dropped where I should have.

2017

I just PR’d at Wineglass.  No one needed my support.  No one was holding their breath about my race.  It was for me.  No clock.  No expectations.  I was here to have fun and do what I wanted. 

Not finishing the race the previous year had left it like an itch in the back of my brain.  That feeling of a stuck sneeze.  Or smoking only half a cigarette.  I needed to finish it.  I needed to cross that finish line.  But that’s all I had to do.  Everything else, between the start and the finish, was up for grabs.

Dr Whiskers had suggested that I run it in a costume which was an amazing idea.  I quickly nixed the luchador because running with a face mask quickly becomes like waterboarding yourself.  I looked at a few other options before deciding to just run in a tutu.  I knew this race was going to hurt, I might as well not make myself to uncomfortable too.  Plus, I looked cute in it.

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So that’s how I found myself, running down 4Th Ave, high fiving every child, grown up, and teddy bear (I counted four) that put their hand out.  It was liberating not worrying about my time.  Brooklyn is in my blood.  It's my favorite part of the race.  I love soaking up the cheers of the crowds. People are there for YOU.  They love YOU.  And the streets are narrower than elsewhere so you get a lot more interaction with the crowd. 

I let myself truly enjoy the day.  If I started to feel like I was racing, I'd pull back.  I walked through water stops, stopped for pics, stopped to pee, walked parts of the 59th Street Bridge, and just did whatever I felt like.  I made sure to high five all the little ones who may have been getting overlooked.  I don't think I ever realized how much fun relaxing could be.

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It started to hurt around mile 18.  That’s really when it stopped being fun.  Or rather, when it stopped being just fun.  It still had it's moments.  I let myself walk the first minute of every mile and through every water stop.  I briefly regretted the tutu because I was getting a lot of attention and every time I started to walk, someone would call out to me from the crowd with words of encouragement.  I felt obligated to react even though I just wanted to be alone with my pain for a bit.  After a few repetitions of this, I decided that I’d respond with a smile and/or a high five.  I realized that it was actually helping to have to smile. 

Yes, this hurts.  Yes, I’m happy.  Yes, this is fun.

I remember making it into the park and wanting to walk it in but also not wanting to make it take longer to finish.  Everyone was really loud but I don’t remember a lot of it.  Why are these miles always so difficult to remember?  I thought I was on mile 24 when I was on 25 which was a nice surprise at that point but also shows where my mind was at.  My garmin was pretty much useless since the bridge and was an entire .6 short.

The finish line is fuzzy.  Somehow I crossed and got my medal.  I was soaked, nauseous, in pain and I couldn’t stop smiling.

 

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HotPinkSneakers

I'm so glad that you got to run this one just for you, and that it went well! It was awesome to hang out with you a bit on Saturday. And your city showed off awfully well this weekend :-) 

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Keep Running Girl
7 minutes ago, HotPinkSneakers said:

I'm so glad that you got to run this one just for you, and that it went well! It was awesome to hang out with you a bit on Saturday. And your city showed off awfully well this weekend :-) 

Thanks!!  It was great seeing you too!!

I was so happy (and proud) that you enjoyed it! 

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mattw

Teddy Bear high fives?! I may have to practice this.

Good report - good running - good luck on the recovery!

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ocrunnergirl

Hey! If there was money for tripping you at mile 16 I’m still waiting for it...

Glad you got your victory lap after Wineglass! Perfect way to finish off a great racing season.

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garbanzo a gogo

you really needed a bishop hat for this run. oh, well.

I would advise against writing too much about this race. It might become noticed and then it'll get crowded. Better to just keep it on the down low with you and the 50,000 other insiders.

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Keep Running Girl
3 hours ago, mattw said:

Teddy Bear high fives?! I may have to practice this.

Good report - good running - good luck on the recovery!

Thank you!!

Teddies were big this year but really anyone is costume will do.

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Keep Running Girl
1 hour ago, ocrunnergirl said:

Hey! If there was money for tripping you at mile 16 I’m still waiting for it...

Glad you got your victory lap after Wineglass! Perfect way to finish off a great racing season.

Sorry, I'd cut you in but I had money on me finishing. :P

Thank you!!!

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Keep Running Girl
1 hour ago, garbanzo a gogo said:

you really needed a bishop hat for this run. oh, well.

I would advise against writing too much about this race. It might become noticed and then it'll get crowded. Better to just keep it on the down low with you and the 50,000 other insiders.

The church frowns upon bishops wearing hot pink tutus.

I know, before you know it all the riffraff will be signing up.

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amarie2009

I ran my best marathon in a tutu. Most enjoyable, but also actually still my PR. (Had more to do with the company I was with, but the tutu was there) Glad you had the race you needed.

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Keep Running Girl
2 hours ago, amarie2009 said:

I ran my best marathon in a tutu. Most enjoyable, but also actually still my PR. (Had more to do with the company I was with, but the tutu was there) Glad you had the race you needed.

Thanks!  I rather liked it.

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Brian

This brings to light a dilemma not often discussed. To run in a costume can change internal feelings during the race. "To be alone with [your] pain" is a great way to put it.

My son (turning 10) and I were considering a Batman and Robin thing in a spring race (He being Batman, of course). But this may make me reconsider. He had a "bad" race last year and is seeking redemption.

Thanks for sharing and congratulations!

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DrWhiskers

Yay! Glad it was (mostly!) a good day! I don't see too many photos from marathons of people smiling.

Now go and enjoy life for awhile. Return to running when it is fun again 9_9

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skinnyLLegs

I can’t believe its been a year already since we were all offering our advice on whether you should quit at 16 miles or not. Time flies when your living life, especially when wearing a tutu. 

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Keep Running Girl
On 11/10/2017 at 8:28 AM, Brian said:

This brings to light a dilemma not often discussed. To run in a costume can change internal feelings during the race. "To be alone with [your] pain" is a great way to put it.

My son (turning 10) and I were considering a Batman and Robin thing in a spring race (He being Batman, of course). But this may make me reconsider. He had a "bad" race last year and is seeking redemption.

Thanks for sharing and congratulations!

The moments of needing to be alone were by far and large outweighed by how much fun it was to get so much love from the crowd.  I would definitely recommend going for it!

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Keep Running Girl
23 hours ago, DrWhiskers said:

Yay! Glad it was (mostly!) a good day! I don't see too many photos from marathons of people smiling.

Now go and enjoy life for awhile. Return to running when it is fun again 9_9

Thanks!!!  I'm already itching to get back to it but I'm not quite there yet.

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