Fast feet or slow shutter speed? |
The race went well for me despite a rough start. I woke up Saturday morning and I could not physically get out of the bed. I don't know if it was a dizzy light-headedness or vertigo but every time I tried to stand up the room would start spinning. I was able to make it to the floor where I laid as long as I could. I was starting to think everyone was going to leave for the race and I would be stuck on the ground! Not a great start to a race day! Eventually I was able to make it up and I fought through my morning routine. Once I was up and upstairs my equilibrium seemed to balance out a bit more but I still felt queasy. I ended up feeling queasy all day but didn't have another bout with the dizziness until I was taking a post-race shower. I am not sure exactly what caused the spell but I will definitely look into it if the problem persists.
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The fleet and yes I was cold. |
I was kidding. I digress . . . so back to the run. The race started on an uphill and ended downhill. I was amazed at how many people were huffing and puffing after that very first hill. I took it easy and actually my first mile turned out to me my slowest. I say I had a perfect start. Sadly I did not have a strategy for this race. I always like to have a strategy or a plan or a target pace, something. This time I just wanted to run and have fun and make my family proud. I did get caught up in the competitive aspect of racing. You know when you have been running close to someone and you guys just flip-flop back and forth while you both pretend it is not happening you are both wondering when the other person is finally going to break? I got caught up in that a couple of times and by mile 5 of the race I concluded women might just be more competitive than men. At one point I was running along and missed a water station because it was in a corner and only two people were there to hand out waters. The guy in front of me grabbed the last cup of water so when I ran by the volunteer was restocking. No biggie. Luckily there was another water stop around the corner maybe .25 miles away. I went to finally get my water, slowing down slightly for the approach, seamlessly grabbing the cup without getting me or volunteer wet. I was so pleased with myself (yay for small victories!) until a girl right behind me, right on my heels, let out this guttural "AWW SHIT!" Apparently I grabbed "her" water. Ooops. Take it easy . . . . Well that must have pissed her off enough that after we finished running through the "mall" she just took off. Well at least I could do something to motivate her . . . .
Unfortunately there were not a lot of spectators out this year but everyone out there was super enthusiastic. It was so cold I have to applaud everyone out there. Like last year there was a group of students dressed in tuxedos and black cocktail dresses on the road that runs behind the lawn. Now when have you seen that? When we came back through the mall the second time we were greeted by two bluegrass bands (I wanted to linger but pressed on). In the neighborhoods anything from classical music to country was blaring from the homes and some of the older residents were cheering, laughing, having a great time . . . and downing what had to be Irish coffees.
Great race. Great course. Fast runners. I highly recommend it.
Charlottesville 10 miler
Then came Sunday. I woke up Sunday morning to find snow on the the ground. And then it snowed some more, big fluffy snowflakes. Really? It is the end of March. I guess you have to endure the fluctuations in the spring weather to get to enjoy all of spring's gifts. I am just glad I was not racing Cool Breeze . . .