Derby Mini 2015 Race Report

The Derby Mini/Marathon race is always a special race to me. It holds a special place in my heart because it was at the 2011 mini I cheered for Nathan when he ran his first 13.1. I was so amazed and proud of him and just couldn't comprehend running that many miles at once!!! I watched as so many people run and walk across the finish line and was inspired that I too could do that someday. The following year I trained for this race and was clueless about distance running...what a journey! Fast forward to the 2012 race. I remember the struggles along the course and how I thought I was insane for doing this...until I crossed that finish line for the very first time. 13.1 miles...unbelievable. I did it, I survived, and I LOVED it! After that first 13.1 I ran a couple more half marathons within the next year (Indy Women's 2012 and Derby Mini 2013). The Derby Mini 2014 didn't go as planned due to a nasty posterior tibial fracture and torn Achilles tendon the month before. I sold my race bib to my friend Alex  who recently moved to Louisville from Texas. The morning of the race I ate Oreo's and coffee while Nathan prepped. I rode with him and cheered for all my friends while in a soft cast and on crutches. It was depressing but it gave me a chance to look at things from a different perspective.

Now let's get to the Derby Mini this year!! Every year Nathan and I make this race part of our Anniversary celebration and I was looking forward to this race and training for it. My running this spring has been the best ever. Nathan and I ran the Triple Crown Series (5k, 10k, and 10 miler) and broke our previous records for each one. Everything was going great until I got sick a few weeks ago. I missed several runs including 2 long runs and just felt bad. Going into this race I wasn't sure how I would do. I forced myself to run 6 miles on the treadmill the week before and it was so hard. The week of the race I was so stressed out from everything and work I just didn't feel like doing much, but I did make myself run some Wednesday evening. It was the best run in a long time and I felt great...it must have been the steroids I was on! I felt better about the race on Saturday, but not the distance. I felt I was unprepared and I was worried about the rain too. 

I went to pick up my packet Thursday night and saw so many friends and had a great time just soaking in the atmosphere (and scoring some awesome freebies). A couple of my friends told me they would be out on the course cheering around mile 8 rain or shine and they would look for me. Leaving the expo I felt a little more excited about the race. Nathan and I went back on Friday to pick his packet up since they wouldn't let me get his the night before. That day I went from excited to nervous and almost sick. I finally just told myself to just run MY RACE and MY PACE. Don't worry about anything and just do what I can. I was still coughing from my ick and the rain wasn't going to help. I got my gear prepped the night before. This took forever because with the rain I had no idea how to dress. Rain jacket or not, long sleeve or short top, capris or tights? I guess I will just pack it all and have what I need with me along with a complete change of dry clothes. Why does figuring out what to wear has to be so complicated sometimes??  We got to bed early...4:30am wake up call comes early. 

Race morning I took several chances. I ate one serving of Cheerios with Protein for breakfast (never tried before a run) and got ready. Honestly, my number one concern that morning was going to the bathroom. I was seriously obsessed with that because I didn't want any GI probs on this race like the last one (PJ 10 miler). I grabbed my coffee and off we went. We parked in a garage so we would have some shelter from the rain before and after the race. While there we finished getting ready for the race. The people sitting in their cars stared at us as we slathered Vaseline EVERYWHERE. I applied some BodyGlide at home before leaving but it never hurts to be overly cautious. I snacked on a banana an hour before the race to top off my fuel and hoped it would help things move along. Nathan found his corral and wished me a great race and we determined a meet up spot. I went along my way to find my pal Connie for our pre race photo ritual. It was where the Landsharks were taking their group photo at Slugger Field. We chatted some and wished each other a great race. I was going to start off with her, but I decided to head back to the bathroom again (I wasn't kidding when I said I was obsessed). The race started and I was still in line and usually I would've freaked out but I didn't really care because the race was chip timed and better to wait now than later. I was supposed to start in corral D, but by the time I joined the race I was in F. The light drizzle rain started right as I crossed the mat to start my chip time. I'm so glad it held off while we were waiting for the race to start. 

I was off! I really like distance running because it always takes me a couple of miles to find my groove and get warmed up. I kept a steady pace and made sure I didn't take off too quickly like I always do. The first couple of miles I had to work out the kinks. The top of my left foot started aching right off the bat (like the first mile or less) but it wasn't anything that made me slow down or stop. The discomfort moved up to my left calf and as I was running I was thinking "okay so this is how this is gonna work, this will ache a bit then something else, but you're fine and just keep going" so I did. The twinge moved up to my left knee (why didn't I tape my left knee like I did the right one? The right one feels great). I focused on my form and trying to keep an even pace and take short walk breaks as needed. I planned to take my nutrition every couple of miles but instead I changed that plan. I took in some applesauce (little pouch I had attached to fuel belt) around mile 3 and some Skratch. My lid popped off my bottle and I ended up dropping the bottle and spilling about 2-3 oz of my nutrition. I really need to get new lids like Nathan has told me at least twice. I came up on mile 4 and 5 pretty quickly it surprised it, but what surprised me the most was how great I was feeling. I felt steady in my core (lead with the hips and knees is what I kept reminding myself), good breathing even with the rain, and I felt like I was holding a good steady pace and fairly even. I took in a little more applesauce around mile 6. I didn't feel like I needed it yet, but it kept hitting my arm and I wanted to toss the pouch soon. I sipped water at almost all aid stations which was plenty for me and I really didn't need the Skratch with me but I did take a few sips. I still had 10oz left after the race even after my spill early on.

 Mile 6, 7, 8 felt amazing and effortless. I was still being conservative with my pace and walking a little as my Garmin told me to, but I walked a little when I needed to and ran when I felt it. My friends were right where they said they'd be on the corner of Central before Churchill Downs. It was so awesome to see them and I ran over and hugged them both! Alexis commented on how great I looked and I remember telling her I felt like a badass and how great I felt. After a couple of hugs and some renewed energy I was off again. The rain really started pouring then, but it didn't bother me at all...actually I really liked running in the rain. I was worried about a blister but with as much Vaseline on my feet I should be safe. I finished off my applesauce pouch and tossed it. That was a risk I took with my nutrition since I never tried it while running but it actually worked in my favor. I felt great and I wasn't even tired. I don't even really remember mile 9, but I just listened to my tunes and be bopped along. I also made sure I ran as straight as possible and didn't weave around people- that helped conserve the energy along with protect my feet. I had bloody feet by mile 4 in the 2013 race due to weaving around people. I hit mile 10 and for a moment I got a little worried that I hadn't ran anything past 10 miles in my training. But I felt so good at that point that I didn't even feel like I just ran 10 miles and I just had 3 miles to go...that's an easy 5k. I didn't have any GI probs at all except one time (I think it was when I saw the 10 mile marker) my gut rumbled at bit...I just talked to myself and said you're fine keep going. Mile 11 is notorious for hip flexor failure for me. I was prepared for this and yes my hip was tired it didn't hurt like before. Coach Mike pounded core work into my head since last fall and it's paying off for sure this running season and thanks to my friend Alex for the Pilates training. I saw the marathon runners merging in with us and they just facinate me and they looked so strong! I checked my watch because I had no idea how long I had been on the course. I set my watch to ONLY show me my current lap so I only focused on one mile at a time (at times I wasn't even sure what mile I was on because I felt so great) and this worked well for me mentally. I was on course for a PR if I pick up the pace a little. I didn't plan to get a PR and just didn't care at the beginning of the race but I was this close so I'm going to go for it. I picked up my pace some but I could feel I was pushing more and was needed walk breaks more so I went back to my strategy. Run steady and strong- pace yourself! At mile 12 I knew I had my PR in the bag and just enjoyed the rest of the race. I still felt great and couldn't wait to find Nathan and get my chocolate milk. That was probably the easiest race and one of the best even with the rain!! 13.1 miles..BAM! I did it. 

Looking back and looking at my splits I know I could have pushed the pace a lot more, but I really enjoyed this and ran comfortable. I have time to work on my speed and strength before my next 13.1 (yep I want another one). I didn't get a PR by as much as I thought, but I did beat my previous best and that's still a PR! WooHoo. I was almost 30lbs lighter when I set that record so weight has nothing to do with it as Alexis says. I'm so much stronger now (I still want to take that 30 back off) and it really shows how far I've come in the last year. Nathan ran great and set a new PR for himself too!! WooHoo! I didn't need to stress and worry over this race I just needed to believe in my strength and determination.