I don’t even know where to start! The weekend was great, just great in so many ways!
Friday actually started with 4 laps around Lilly’s school soccer field for the Terry Fox Run and then a drive to the city. We dropped off the girls to my parents and drove over to Cow Bay to find parking and make our way to Fisherman’s Cove. My gawd it’s beautiful there!
This was one of the views on our runs! I taped my ankle in the car and then we walked just around 1km to the start area. This was nice as it gave my foot some time to settle into the tape job I did and this was the best one I’ve done so far this injury.
Just *some* of the race swag!
We met up with my friend Tracey and then Krystol (my running buddy) and her family. As the race time approached we headed to the starting chute and waited. Garmins turning on and beeping, space getting limited, making friends with your neighbours you were standing by and the sun slowly setting behind us.
With a few minutes to go we were all jumping up and down doing a warm up. However, when the lady said to kick your butt, we all turned around to make sure we didn’t kick the person behind us. Everyone kinda laughed and just moved as they could – WE HAD NO ROOM TO MOVE.
The gun went off and we slowly moved forward. It took us 1:17 to get to the starting mat and then we were dodging runners. It was expected with all 2000-2500+ people running all together. I was a little further back in the crowd then I wanted to be but my husband and I just started weaving around people when it was safe. There is literally people everywhere on the out and back course.
My watch hit the first kilometre and I saw 6:08 and I thought…nice, but that’s fast for me. We kept moving forward through the sea of mostly red shirts. My Garmin beeped kilometre 2 with a pace of 5:51 and I though oh shit this isn’t good, this is too fast for me. As we came close to the turn around the middle of my chest was painful, likely from breathing too fast. My fitness wasn’t there and this pace was too fast, the middle of my back started hurting too!
Shortly after this my husband said to breathe in twice – or at least what I thought he said. For some reason I took two breaths in and then two breaths out which actually relieved some pain. However, that is not what he said or meant but when your running sometimes you can’t always hear the person running beside you clearly. We had a laugh about this post race.
My husband wanted to pick up his pace so we wished each other good luck and we’d meet up at the finish. At kilometre 3, I hit 6:01 and wasn’t sure if I could keep this pace as my body wasn’t loving it so I slowed down and too a break walking and stretch my back out for a few seconds. I was trying to relieve the pain I was having in my back and it work.
I saw so many old and new friends running, I high-fived some I’ve met on twitter which was fun. As kilometre four hit and my Garmin beeped 6:22 and I was having no pain in my ankle still – yeah! As I approached Fisherman’s Cove where you run a semi-loop to the finish line I picked up my pace even more. Pushing my body forward, keeping my posture upright and trying to just enjoy the pain of finishing hard. I’m confident I had the ugly runner’s face on as I knew I was so close to a sub 30 – 5k.
I cross the finished line and paused my Garmin {30:14} and had to take a break on the side of the chute where I saw Krystol. Her face was looking like she was concerned for me but I assured her I was okay and that I just pushed it a little too much for my current fitness level.
I was happy. My husband finished in 26:31 and Krystol in 25:08, she was just 8 seconds or so off a PB!! We grabbed a banana and met up with Krystol’s family, found Tracey and Saï. We took off after a few pictures in the long line of cars and made our way back to my parents house. Both girls were sound asleep when we got home but Saï got to snuggle with Hilary as she woke up for a short period of time.
I had no intentions of running so fast with my current fitness level and injury that I’ve been told “not to run on” but I have no regrets. It felt good minus the chest and back pain but I’ve done very limited upper body strength as well. You don’t just run with your legs! It was fun running with Saï, seeing friends, then finishing the race really strong. It was just great!
Race recap for Saturday’s Sunrise 5k to come next (provided I have time to write it).
Anyone race this past weekend?
MRW Runners: did you love Friday night’s Sunset 5k?
What’s the first thing you do after crossing the finishing of a race?
Piper's Run 
I was taking in the scenery Friday night Saturday was all business! I appreciated the hello Charlotte on route! It made me smile, it just wasn’t a great day to run due to factors beyond my control. I did it & that’s all that matters.
Wasn’t it just an awesome weekend! Think you’d do it again?
Don’t know honestly, things are shifting big time after October 31st.
Hopefully for the good.
Moving out of current toxic living situation
Take care of yourself.
We were very close to one another in the start line up, I crossed the start line at 1:25 or so and finished with a pb of 30:08! It was an amazing night to have a run. The energy is always super there. Congratulations on your finish!
That’s awesome we were so close together. What a great night eh! Congrats on your PB!! Did you run Saturday?
Sounds like you did ok, even if you felt that you pushed too hard! Great job!
I was really happy with my race, completely enjoyed it!
I have not done a 5k in a while but I do also start them way too fast and then kind of die at the end.
5k’s are hard to judge your pace sometimes. You just want to go all out but really shouldn’t because you can crash fast!
How fun! I totally didn’t get to do a terry fox run this year and I’m bummed!
Our Terry Fox run was nice…small but just what I needed after my double race. You’ll have to put Maritime Race Weekend on your bucket list!
What a gorgeous place! Congrats on a great race! It’s wonderful that your husband can do it with you. I wish mine would do stuff with me.
Thank you. I loved that my husband ran it with me. It’s been so awesome to see him run more as he usually cycles more.
Sounds like a beautiful evening run!! Nice pace!
It sure was. You’ll have to do both races next year 😉
Nice job on your race! It’s hard not to start off too fast, but you maintained your pace pretty well, so it’s all good. 🙂
My pace just felt natural in the sea of people so I just went with it, however I paid for it…that and the fact that I had zero training under my belt due to injury.
Whoa! How awesome is that? Pretty impressive considering everything you have been dealing with. I’m so glad the race was a success and that you had a great time. Congrats!
I was so happy with how I felt and my pace. Honestly, no regrets about it!
Thanks 🙂
The view is absolutely gorgeous, I would love to run a 5K and look at that! I ran a 5K and half this weekend…the half was super humid so it was tough, but the 5K was really nice. You did a great job…it’s hard to run shorter races with such large crowds! And congrats to your hubs and friend too!
The views on the half marathon course apparently are even more amazing! Humidity can sure take the good out of you during a run!
Cool! Congratulations on such a great race, that looks like a ton of fun. Glad you had no ankle problems and turned in such a good time!
Thanks John! It was such a great time!
Wow! Good for you. I honestly would love to be able to come back one day during this race weekend!
You totally should! This race usually sells out come spring, keep an eye out!
BOOM! Now rest up and make sure everything is still attached. I am taking an extra rest day after my big week last week.
PT tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can’t wait.
Woohoo!!
I’m sorry – I’m obviously terribly behind on your posts…what did you do to your ankle??
Haha no worries girl. It was a soccer injury about 5 weeks ago. PT on Wednesday! !!
Yuck!! Take care of it!!!
Niiice!!! You did great considering you haven’t been running consistently!!
I was really happy with both races! Now just to get my ankle sorted and back to normal running!
Great job!!! Anytime you get moving is a great day!
So true!
wow!! Awesome job! This was an (early) evening race (?), sounds like it was a popular event with all the crowds. I love the red tank top!
Yes, it was a 7pm race with the sun setting just around 8ish.
Wow, great race! So, what was your husband trying to tell you??
He was trying to tell me to breathe out hard every second breath – which I would do if I had side stitches.My mind just wasn’t working so I breathed out two breaths and exhaled two breaths.
What a gorgeous place to run. Nice job on your race. The first thing I do after a race is head to the food tent and grab a snack and some water!
It’s so beautiful there! Foot tent and water are the first thing I do as well.
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what a beautiful venue! great job!
It sure was beautiful! thanks 🙂
Looks beautiful and great job! I am always looking for water when I finish and I have been running so hard it seems like I have to give myself a minute to gain my composure 🙂
It was so beautiful and the sun was setting at the perfect time!
Awesome work at your race! What a gorgeous place for a race too!
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