WOW.
4000+ women trying to run 3.1 miles can get scary. It took me a solid 3 mins before I crossed the start! I didnt realize that my time would be clock time and not chip time so I lost over 3 mins in mass chaos. For the first 1.5 miles my friend and I were running on sidewalks and on the grass to get around people. Spent most of the race weaving in and out of people and trying not to trample anyone. I was running HARD and the heat got to me. I stopped to walk for 10 seconds - TOTAL BUMMER (I felt like hurling at this point). I never walk during a race - I should have just slowed my pace. Started to run again and saw that I was at the 4km mark and I decided to give it my all (I couldnt figure out why they had KM and Mile markers until about 2 seconds ago = for the runners that came from other countries). I got to the part of the race that was down a huge hill and new it was almost over- as I was running (REALLY FAST I MIGHT ADD) I kept visioning myself tripping and rolling down the hill.
FINALLY I get to the finish and my time was 34:56 and thought to myself thats ok since it took me 3 mins to cross the start and probably another 1.5 min to get up the hill through the crowd in the very beginning. I designated a spot to meet my mom and daughter and it was the DUMBEST spot to pick. It took me 10 mins to walk back up the street to find them. I am from NYC - I know all about crowds but this was nuts! We go and grab some grub (apples, gogurt, orange juice, luna bar samples!) and sit until the times are posted. I am blind and couldnt get close enough to the paper to see my time - I thought it would be the time from our chip but apparently thats not how this race works.
According to Freihofer's my time was 34:56 (11:15 min/mile) but according to my time I finished in 31:55 (I started my HRM as soon as I crossed the start line). Either way both times are WAY better then my first 5k in November (finished 39:02) and I am happy!
I am running a 5k next saturday and I am hoping its not hot - the heat really sucks when you are running a lot faster then you are used to.
Buffalo Marathon Race Report
8 hours ago
Yay! Congrats!
ReplyDeleteIt was INSANELY crowded, wasn't it? Totally nuts. I was annoyed by the number of runners who started while holding hands w/another runner. Huh? It was tough to get around them!!!
I was surprised at how hot I was early on, too. I didn't expect that.
I'm probably running the valley cats run on Sat - that's the one you're running, right? I did it last year, too, and liked it but I just thought I might do the Trojans one. But, your comment about the disorganization made me think that I should stick with what I know! I know the v.c. race is fun. We should try to meet up after the race!
Congrats! I felt the same about the race and was disappointed that I started so far back and my time seemed so slow bcause of that. I am doing the Race against Domestic Violence in East Greenbush on Sunday. Should be much smaller!!
ReplyDeleteCONGRATS!! That's the thing I hate about that race. NO ONE ever lines up in their correct corral. You're better off jumping up 2 corrals just to even get a decent start.
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