Two months ago- to the day!- I decided I was done with this whole “anti-running thing” and recommitted myself to the sport by registering and training for a race. The race’s distance- a 15K (9.3 miles) was one I’d done before around the same time last year, so I knew that with proper training, I could handle it.
The last race I’d run- the Brooklyn Half Marathon- was nearly six months ago, and I’d suffered from painful ITBS throughout my entire training and didn’t even know if I’d be able to run the race. I took my time and finished, but I could barely walk afterwards.
This time around, I wanted to do it right. I followed a training plan (almost) to the T, and made sure to incorporate strength and cross training into my routine, as well as take a yoga class at least once a week. As an added bonus, Ari registered for the race as well! We had a lot of fun going out on long runs together.
We’d originally planned to run a 15K in Van Cortlandt park last weekend, but the weather was horrible and neither of us had slept very well. Luckily, there was another 15K planned for this Sunday, so we signed up for that one. Unfortunately in a turn of bad luck, Ari twisted his ankle on Friday night and was unable to run today. Still, he was a good sport and got up early with me this morning to cheer me on!
I laid out my clothes the night before so I wouldn’t have to fumble around, bleary eyed, trying to locate all of my layers. It was 31 degrees, so I had to make sure to bundle up! Here’s what I wore:”
- CWX racing/ compression tights (for warmth!)
- tank top
- lightweight long sleeve sweat-wicking shirt
- fleece jacket
- headband (worn over ears)
- gloves
Breakfast was the usual: toast (sunflower raisin) with nut butter (sunflower and peanut), a banana and cinnamon. Strong coffee on the side!
Ari offered to hold my coat while I ran, so I wore it to the Central Park to stay warm.
After finding the start, I warmed up a bit to get my blood flowing.
Pre-race energy is so much fun!!
Since I hadn’t anticipated running alone, I didn’t have a playlist prepared and hadn’t charged my ipod! I’ve run without music before, but I find that familiar songs with a high bpm really help keep me running strong. On the cab ride over, I made a quick On-The-Go playlist of some old favorites, including the YeahYeahYeahs (Fever to Tell always gets me going), Robyn, Jay-Z, and Wolf Parade.
Finally, it was time to start.
I tried to start out strong but not go all out. 9 miles isn’t a marathon, but it is a considerable distance! And Central Park has a fair share of hills, so I didn’t want to have to stop or feel like I was going to die. I didn’t wear my Garmin (lost the charger) or my heart rate monitor, but relied on the timers at the mile markers to pace myself. I made a last minute decision that I was going to think of this as a “race” and not a “run” after all (we’d decided to just consider this a long run to keep it fun and take some of the pressure off), and, if I could do it without injuring myself, I was going to try to beat last year’s 15K time of 1:33:26.
For the first few miles, I ran about a 10 minute mile. Around mile 3 or 4, I started to get pretty confident, and somewhere in there where I ran a 7:30 pace! My left foot was numb for pretty much the entire race, my right hip flexor ached, my calves were tight and for a minute or two I felt a stab in my knee. I closed my eyes and hoped I wouldn’t have an ITBS flare-up, and I didn’t!
I ran hard. There were moments I thought I would be sick, and moments that I had to remind myself to keep my pace steady so that I’d be able to finish strong. The last two miles were the hardest; I was physically and mentally exhausted, and there was a pretty big hill we had to climb before the 9-mile marker. But then I saw the marker, and I saw Ari, and I knew I was almost done.
As usual, once I was about 100 feet away I ramped up the pace and sprinted to the finish line. It’s kind of amazing that no matter how tired I am, I always seem to be able to do this during a race. At both the Brooklyn and NYC half marathons, my right leg was in so much pain, but I ran fast and with confidence for the last few paces. The human body is an amazing thing.
My official time was 1:26:47 (9:20 pace), nearly 7 minutes faster than last year’s (10:02 pace)! This is only my second time running the same distance more than once, and my first time feeling the thrill of a PR. Let me tell you, it feels pretty damn good 
Ari and I found each other and walked home, shivering in the cold with the promise of a big mug of hot chocolate and my mom’s famous scrambled eggs.
My legs are REALLY stiff and my hip flexor needs a good stretching, but we’ve got two holiday parties to attend and the celebrating must be done! Hope you’re having a fantastic weekend.
Congrats on the race!
Great job!!! Congrats, girl!
Well done!! Can’t believe you smashed your PR by 7 MINUTES!!! That’s amazing!
Great job! Have fun celebrating!
good for you for committing yourself to getting back into the running game – and sticking with it! sounds like you had a great race. i especially like the hot cocoa and breakfast that awaited you upon your return. how lovely!
congrats, that seems like an excellent race! maybe i’ll sign up for it next year.
Well done! Great race recap. Looks like a fab race, I agree about the sprint to the finish, you always seem to be able to dig something out at the end. I would have ran fast at the end with that hot chocolate waiting for me too!
Congratulations on the race Katie! It was so awesome of Ari to be your cheerleader and coat holder even though he couldn’t run with you! I know you’ve had some tough races and times with running in the past, so I’m really glad it was so positive this time around! Have fun at your parties tonight!
Awesome job! Go you!
congrats!!
Congratulations! you rocked this race, and I hope your success inspires you to run more like this!
I love running to Robyn and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs. Would you be willing to post more of your workout music?
Yay katie. So proud.
YAY!! Girl you did it and you rocked it! So proud of you my dear.
ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! Congrats!! A PR- so exciting
Hope you celebrated all day long
CONGRATULATIONS!! What a fun and exciting day!!! I’m so happy you enjoyed your run and accomplished your goal
What a great way to kick off the holidays~
YAY! Congrats girl! And yes the body is an amazing thing.
Way to go on the race! Thats really impressive, both your time, and training! Its so cute that Ari was there waiting for you. My boyfriend gets up early with me and cheers me on when I do triathlons and now he’s training for a 1/2 ironman triathlon this summer, so I hope I can do that same for him : ) You deserved that hot chocolate for sure!
Wooohoo! Awesome race. You look like you had a ton of fun too. I want those running tights, PS. they look awesome.
congrats on the race, and on the PR! WOW, way to go Katie!
hey girlie!!
wahoooo for a PR!!! congrats! so excited for you and your running-love! I hope you have a great week ahead of you!
xoxo!
I LOVE THE YEAH, YEAH, YEAHS!!! Mario often comes home to their music blaring and me singing at the top of my lungs (I’m sure much to the chagrin of our neighbours … more because of my singing voice than the loud music
)
Congratulations on a great run Mini Me and way to finish it with a smile! So proud xoxo
Congratulations, Katie! Glad the race went so well.
Awesome job!
Getting a PR always feels so great
Holy moley! I don’t think I’d be able to run in 31 degree weather. You go girl! Haha. Ari seems like such a sweety. I can see my bf now snoring while I fumble around in the dark looking for something to wear lol.
Woo hooo! look at you go
That’s awesome. Quite an honorable achievement in 31 degree weather, especially!
xo.
yay!! congrats on the PR!
Congrats!!! Nice PR
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