The Race That Wasn't and the 5k That Certainly Was

This past weekend has been the Critz Tybee Run Fest.  I outlined the details on my Five Things Friday so you can see there to get an idea of what this is all about =) I had originally signed up to do all 5 races, but decided the night before that I would just do the 5k and the half because I had fallen behind a bit in my training.

Friday night at 6:15 was the 5k.  First they had the kiddie run, which was adorable as always, and then we got lined up for the 5k.  I'm going to say what I didn't like about it first.  1.  There were only speakers right at the start line.  That means that unless you were in the first 20 or so people up at the start, you couldn't hear them announcing anything at all.  It was a bit frustrating.  I didn't even know they were singing the National Anthem until about halfway through!  2.  People didn't seem to understand the whole faster people in the front, slower people in the back idea.  I don't know if this was because there were too many people, because no one knew we were lining up, because it was too small of a start line, or what.  I started in the middle/back where I normally start, since I run the first few minutes.  Before a tenth of a mile, probably a hundred people flew by me, I was flanked on each side by strollers trying to weave everywhere, there were walkers that started in the front, and later I heard about someone with a walker starting in the front!  Seriously, kudos to you for getting out there and moving, but you are creating a hazard to yourself and others!  3. It was DARK!  We were only on the main roads for mayyyyybe a mile, if that.  That's about the only place there were street lights.  There were a few volunteers at turns that had flashlights, but we were in the neighborhoods of Tybee, and not much is lit up.  I do think that watching my footing so much did slow me down.

With all that said, I absolutely loved this race, and it would probably be my #1 if it wasn't  for the dark.  Granted, this could be because of my performance.  As a reminder, I do 1:1 run:walk intervals.  Usually I skip the first walk, maybe the second if I'm feeling good.  Well, I kept feeling good, and ran all the way through the first mile!  I was so shocked and pleased with myself.  I walked a minute at Mile 1, ran a half mile, walked a minute, ran a half mile, walked two minutes (starting just before Mile 2), ran to 2.25 and then started my 1:1 intervals.  I was so proud of myself! I didn't PR because I didn't run as fast as normal, because I was trying to pace myself, but I did do it in 40:39 at a 13:20 pace.  I hadn't run in a week and this is a lot better than I had been doing, so I was very very pleased with myself!  Here are a couple pictures:

While mascots kind of freak me out, it was fun to meet him!

Slightly blurry start line

Start line selfie

Shaky, but I wanted everyone to know IRun4 Oliver!

Trolley full of sweaty runners after - it kept fogging up!

My adorable support team!

This morning Ray (boyfriend) and his mom participated in the 10k starting at 7:00.  He got a new PR as they came in a 1:10:52!  He pushed harder than he probably should have but really wanted to break 1:15 and I'm so proud of him for doing so.

Now, as he was running the 10k, I was staying warm in my car.  Last night for the 5k, it was about 50 degrees outside with no sun.  I wore a skirt and long-sleeved shirt and I was warm by the end.  I looked at the forecast when I woke up this morning, and it was supposed to be about 55 at 8:00, and the half started at 8:30.  I figured I'd be fine with a skirt and long sleeves again.  How wrong I was!  From the time we woke up at 4:15 it was raining.  Being right on the beach, it was windy.  It was probably around 48 degrees out at 7:50, when I got out of the car to feed the meter (parking is enforced starting at 8), and head to the finish line to cheer them in.  (His mom runs around a 1 hour 10k usually, so I knew it probably wouldn't be soon after that at least she would come in.)  

I stopped to wait at a tent they had set up for runners to eat/drink after their race, and realized how cold I was.  This was with sweatpants and a sweatshirt on over my running clothes.  I thought I was just being a pansy, since people were walking around in shorts and tank tops seeming fine!  But I started talking to another woman who had traveled for the race who was considering not doing it, and I realized I was having the same thoughts in my mind.  Hearing that someone else was thinking it too made me feel more sane.  While waiting at the finish line, I realized I couldn't feel my nose, toes, or fingers because it was so windy and cold out.  It was then that I decided not to do the half, with an extremely heavy heart.  This was a very difficult decision for me to make, and there may have been a few tears shed in the process.  But I think it was the safest for me, and helped me avoid getting sick.

I had always planned on Princess being my first half, the Tybee run was kind of a last minute decision, but I think it's kind of fate that Princess will end up being my first half anyway.  What better place to have one than in Disney World?  While I'm upset about my decision today, I'm coming to terms with it, and so so so looking forward to PHM weekend!

Have you ever made a last minute decision like this?

Lauren