Face Your Fears
November 20, 2011
24 DAYS OF THANKS
#20 - I am thankful for my husband. For the changes that we have made in our lives recently and that we are standing behind each other and support each other. When we start to doubt ourselves we are both there to give the other a boost of confidence. When we are being challenged we are both there to push each other to complete the challenge. Most of all we are both there to tell one another how great of a job we are doing and provide a little ego boost every now and again.
Today was the day... I got up and instantly couldnt get the thought of the race out of my head. It was going to be a long morning if I couldnt change that. I tried to relax, I took a shower, got dressed and came downstairs for a cup of coffee. Hubs was out at his Crossfit Certification Course (yay!) so I was on my own. It was great because I was able to do what I wanted to keep my mind clear... but not going to lie, it would have been nice to have him here to encourage me.
I had arranged to carpool with K, M, AP and T to the race so when the time came to head over I got my bag and hit the road. There was no turning back. The weather was nice today which was a great plus... but still a little cool with the breeze. When we got to Slats the parking was crazy. The walkers had just started so we had plenty of time to park, get our numbers and get geared up for the start. Good for some... bad for others (me) because it gave me lots of time to "freak out!"
Eventually the time approached and everyone made it to the starting line. They havent released the total number of runners, but last year there were 849 people on the results form. There was a massive crowd and we were pretty close to the front. I had my ipod ready and my goal was to block everyone and everything out, focus, and push through the entire 5 miles without stopping or walking. Treat it as I would a WOD. I could do it if I put my mind to it.
The first mile wasnt so bad... quicker than I thought. Also quicker than I should have run it I think. I had my stop watch on and set it so I could track my miles as well as the total time. I did my best to stick with KP and T for that mile and crossed the 1 mile mark at 8:27. I knew I wasnt going to be able to keep that pace through the whole 5 miles... I backed off a bit and maintained my breathing. It was really hard to not get discouraged as I watched people pass by me, but I just could not let that happen. I didnt know where I stood in the pack, and to be honest... all I wanted to do was work hard, finish hard and complete the race "unbroken," (aka no walking).
I was in a zone when I passed the second mile marker. I glanced at my watch, hit the split time and at the same time looked at what I wrote on my hand before I left the house... "UNBROKEN" I was going to do this... I was doing this. The time was 19:00 (which equates to a 11:33 mile), thats how I know the first mile was too fast. I kept my eyes forward, my music pumping and my legs moving.
After what felt like a really long time I passed the 3rd mile marker... the time 30:03 (another 11:03 min mile). All I could think of was "more than half way there, when you pass the next one, there is just ONE more!" Thats what kept me moving. There were lots of people, I was only passing others when they had stopped to walk, but I tried to pay no mind. There were people along the race cheering on the runners, lots of little kids with their hands stretched out for high 5's as you passed them, and plenty of what looked like pissed off people stuck in the detours for the road closures.
Between the 3rd and 4th mile I was familiar with the course. I went to FSC so I had driven those roads quite a bit. It was helpful because I knew what was left. To my surprise the 4th mile was the "easiest" and also my fastest. When I passed the clock my watch said 40:56 (so a 10:53) mile. I cant even tell you how effing happy I was when I passed that clock... I was on the LAST mile. My mind said "this is it, you cant stop now!"
Well... not exactly. See, the pisser of this course is a GIGANTIC hill on Pearl Street that takes you back to the street the finish line is on. I know the hill well... once I saw the street light at the bottom I knew I was in for it, but I also knew that once I conquered it I was minutes from the finish line. I turned up it and all hell broke loose. When I tell you this kicked my ass, I mean it. It also kicked a lot of other people asses. While my stomach was feeling upset I was passing others who had... um... the same problem. This hill should be called "vomit hill" for sure! I turned my head away from the "misfortune" and pushed as hard as I could. My legs felt like lead weights. I felt like as hard as I pushed I wasnt
I remember this woman at the top of the hill, she started yelling for me when I was about 20 feet from her... "keep pushing, you got this, almost there..." and there I was, turning down the street... finish line in sight! HOLY CRAP!! The 400m from there to the finish line were my last obstacle... give it everything you've got...
I saw some EXPers on the side of the road and as I passed them I heard them cheering me (by name) on. That was the key, it pushed me to kick it and finish strong! I saw KP and T who had already finished and K had a huge grin on her face watching me pass them... I crossed the finish line at 52:29 (11:33 mile). This isnt my official time, I dont know what that is yet, but its the time I took with my own watch when I crossed the start line and when I passed the finish line.
So there you have it. I did it... I am exhausted... I am beat up... but I DID IT!
I owe this to CrossFit. Just three months ago there is no way I would have been able to complete this. IF I even had the balls to sign up for this before than (which I wouldnt) I didnt have the mind power, physical strength or endurance to push through it. Through crossfit I have gained so much confidence, drive and determination to complete any physical task put in front of me. Its amazing.
Thank you CROSSFIT for changing my life.
WORKOUT
5 Mile Turkey Trot
Mile 1 - 8:27
Mile 2 - 19:00 (11:33)
Mile 3 - 30:03 (11:03)
Mile 4 - 40:56 (10:53)
Mile 5 - 52:29 (11:33)
24 DAYS OF THANKS
#20 - I am thankful for my husband. For the changes that we have made in our lives recently and that we are standing behind each other and support each other. When we start to doubt ourselves we are both there to give the other a boost of confidence. When we are being challenged we are both there to push each other to complete the challenge. Most of all we are both there to tell one another how great of a job we are doing and provide a little ego boost every now and again.
Today was the day... I got up and instantly couldnt get the thought of the race out of my head. It was going to be a long morning if I couldnt change that. I tried to relax, I took a shower, got dressed and came downstairs for a cup of coffee. Hubs was out at his Crossfit Certification Course (yay!) so I was on my own. It was great because I was able to do what I wanted to keep my mind clear... but not going to lie, it would have been nice to have him here to encourage me.
I had arranged to carpool with K, M, AP and T to the race so when the time came to head over I got my bag and hit the road. There was no turning back. The weather was nice today which was a great plus... but still a little cool with the breeze. When we got to Slats the parking was crazy. The walkers had just started so we had plenty of time to park, get our numbers and get geared up for the start. Good for some... bad for others (me) because it gave me lots of time to "freak out!"
Eventually the time approached and everyone made it to the starting line. They havent released the total number of runners, but last year there were 849 people on the results form. There was a massive crowd and we were pretty close to the front. I had my ipod ready and my goal was to block everyone and everything out, focus, and push through the entire 5 miles without stopping or walking. Treat it as I would a WOD. I could do it if I put my mind to it.
The first mile wasnt so bad... quicker than I thought. Also quicker than I should have run it I think. I had my stop watch on and set it so I could track my miles as well as the total time. I did my best to stick with KP and T for that mile and crossed the 1 mile mark at 8:27. I knew I wasnt going to be able to keep that pace through the whole 5 miles... I backed off a bit and maintained my breathing. It was really hard to not get discouraged as I watched people pass by me, but I just could not let that happen. I didnt know where I stood in the pack, and to be honest... all I wanted to do was work hard, finish hard and complete the race "unbroken," (aka no walking).
I was in a zone when I passed the second mile marker. I glanced at my watch, hit the split time and at the same time looked at what I wrote on my hand before I left the house... "UNBROKEN" I was going to do this... I was doing this. The time was 19:00 (which equates to a 11:33 mile), thats how I know the first mile was too fast. I kept my eyes forward, my music pumping and my legs moving.
After what felt like a really long time I passed the 3rd mile marker... the time 30:03 (another 11:03 min mile). All I could think of was "more than half way there, when you pass the next one, there is just ONE more!" Thats what kept me moving. There were lots of people, I was only passing others when they had stopped to walk, but I tried to pay no mind. There were people along the race cheering on the runners, lots of little kids with their hands stretched out for high 5's as you passed them, and plenty of what looked like pissed off people stuck in the detours for the road closures.
Between the 3rd and 4th mile I was familiar with the course. I went to FSC so I had driven those roads quite a bit. It was helpful because I knew what was left. To my surprise the 4th mile was the "easiest" and also my fastest. When I passed the clock my watch said 40:56 (so a 10:53) mile. I cant even tell you how effing happy I was when I passed that clock... I was on the LAST mile. My mind said "this is it, you cant stop now!"
Well... not exactly. See, the pisser of this course is a GIGANTIC hill on Pearl Street that takes you back to the street the finish line is on. I know the hill well... once I saw the street light at the bottom I knew I was in for it, but I also knew that once I conquered it I was minutes from the finish line. I turned up it and all hell broke loose. When I tell you this kicked my ass, I mean it. It also kicked a lot of other people asses. While my stomach was feeling upset I was passing others who had... um... the same problem. This hill should be called "vomit hill" for sure! I turned my head away from the "misfortune" and pushed as hard as I could. My legs felt like lead weights. I felt like as hard as I pushed I wasnt
I remember this woman at the top of the hill, she started yelling for me when I was about 20 feet from her... "keep pushing, you got this, almost there..." and there I was, turning down the street... finish line in sight! HOLY CRAP!! The 400m from there to the finish line were my last obstacle... give it everything you've got...
I saw some EXPers on the side of the road and as I passed them I heard them cheering me (by name) on. That was the key, it pushed me to kick it and finish strong! I saw KP and T who had already finished and K had a huge grin on her face watching me pass them... I crossed the finish line at 52:29 (11:33 mile). This isnt my official time, I dont know what that is yet, but its the time I took with my own watch when I crossed the start line and when I passed the finish line.
So there you have it. I did it... I am exhausted... I am beat up... but I DID IT!
I owe this to CrossFit. Just three months ago there is no way I would have been able to complete this. IF I even had the balls to sign up for this before than (which I wouldnt) I didnt have the mind power, physical strength or endurance to push through it. Through crossfit I have gained so much confidence, drive and determination to complete any physical task put in front of me. Its amazing.
Thank you CROSSFIT for changing my life.
WORKOUT
5 Mile Turkey Trot
Mile 1 - 8:27
Mile 2 - 19:00 (11:33)
Mile 3 - 30:03 (11:03)
Mile 4 - 40:56 (10:53)
Mile 5 - 52:29 (11:33)
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