Founders’ Day 10K
NOW THAT’S WHAT I CALL A "RACE"!
Not only I did reach my goal of 56 minutes, I SURPASSED IT!!
My official time was 52 minutes, 58 seconds! What an amazing feeling! Plus, Meghann smoked her goal time, too ("under an hour") and came in a mere one minute after me!
I truly cannot believe I paced 8:30-minute miles for 6.2 miles. I always thought I’d be a 10-minute mile runner. Before today, my Personal Record (PR) for a 10K was 1 hr, 1 minute in a road race (June 2006) and 1 hr, 1 minute in a trail race (August 2008). It just goes to show that TRAINING PROGAMS WORK! (Here the Original program and the Modified program.)
In addition to my training, there were several factors that made this race SO perfect:
- It was about 60 degrees outside – not hot or humid AT ALL!
- I was in a really good mood.
- The course was in beautiful, picture-perfect Celebration, Florida.
- I never, ever let doubt creep into my mind ONCE during the race. I approached the race KNOWING I would make my goal.
Race Recap
I woke up at 5:15, jumped into the shower (to help myself wake up), and got dressed in my gear. My mom got up early, too (she’s driving home today) and we had breakfast together.
I had oatmeal, coffee, and a big glass of water. My oatmeal included:
- 1/2 cup dry oatmeal
- 1/2 cup water
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1 sliced banana
- Toppings: brown sugar and granola
I kissed my mom goodbye and drove 15 miles to Celebration.
I ran into Meghann in the parking lot and we walked over to the registration tent. We got our shirts, numbers, and laced our Championship Chips to our sneakers.
Then we met up with a reader, Mary Jo! Meghann has a cute photo of the three of us. It was Mary Jo’s first 10K (she’s done some triathlons before)! Mary Jo, we looked for you at the finish line, but we couldn’t find you! I hope you did AWESOME!
At the starting line, you have to group yourself by your anticipated pace. I lined up with the 9-minute milers.
Once the gun went off, I TOOK OFF! I totally got into the zone — no chatting with Meghann for the first few miles like our last 15K! I focused on warming up my hands and my feet for the first mile (it was cold by Florida standards!).
I hit the Mile 1 mark at 8:15 (chip time). I was pretty impressed, but also very surprised, because the fastest mile I’ve ever run was about 8:15…. on a treadmill…. and I only ran the 1 mile to see how fast I could go. But, I felt good, my heart rate seemed normal, and I didn’t feel like I was pushing myself TOO hard. But trust me, I definitely was WORKING IT!
I passed Mile 2 at 17:00. A water station immediately followed the 2-mile marker, so I grabbed a cup and kept running. I normally walk through water stations because I find it incredibly hard to drink + run, but I figured I needed to go "balls to the wall!"
After Mile 2, I started to repeat my mantra. I KNEW if I let myself doubt my pace for one second, I would slow down and/or freak out. I repeated "No Doubt! No Doubt! No Doubt!" over and over again. It give me something else to focus on, and it REALLY helped me maintain my pace. Running is all mental!
I hit Mile 4 at 34:00. I was ELATED, but didn’t let myself get distracted. No Doubt! No Doubt! No Doubt! I choose to walk through the second water station.
At Mile 5, I intentionally slowed to a 9-minute or 9:30-minute mile pace. Although I wasn’t doubting myself, I wanted to finish strong.
Once I saw the Mile 6 marker, I definitely picked up the pace and PUSHED it to the finish line! I’m sure the professional race photographer at the end got a race photo of me, because I crossed the line with my arms raised high, tears in my eyes, and whoopin’ in joy! I COULDN’T BELIEVE THE CLOCK SAID 52:58!!!
I waited for Meghann to finish and much to my surprised, she was only a minute behind me! I was so impressed with her time because she guessed she would come in around 1 hour! WAY TO GO, MEGHANN!
I grabbed a banana from the post-race food table….
And then we visited some booth to grab some free goodies and watched the awards get handed out.l
Lunch
I came home, showered, and relaxed while my VERY early lunch cooked.
I had about 2/3 cup pinto beans over 1/2 cup (dry) Kashi Pilaf.
And some salt-and-pepper roasted Brussel Sprouts on the side!
Time to veg on the couch for a little bit, and then I’ve got to get down to business – our holistic supplement website launches on TUESDAY!!
"If someone hands you rocks, make a bridge, not a wall!"
Posted by: Caitlin 53 comments
Posted in: All Posts
on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:18 am
CONGRATULATIONS!! Amazing job Caitlin! How wonderful that you smoked your goal time. Imagine what you’ll do in your next race!
You’ve totally inspired me to go for a run today. Off to put my sneaks on!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:20 am
Congrats on your race! So awesome!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:21 am
SO AWESOME!! you should feel unstoppable!
that’s great!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:22 am
OH MY GOODNESS GRACIOUS!!!!!! Amaaaaazing race results, Caitlin – you continue to inspire me!!
So exciting that your site will launch soon!!
Great quote!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:27 am
WOW! You did an amazing job!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:27 am
CONGRATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
your time is absolutely amazing! you should be sooooo soooooo proud of yourself.
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:32 am
Congrats! Amazing! Yay! I mentioned you on my post this morning
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:34 am
Congratulations are smokin’ your PR! WAHOO! Sounds like a good race!!!
Enjoy the rest of your sunday!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:38 am
Congrats!!
I knew you would surpass your goal! You rock!!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:40 am
Wow, you really beat your previous PR! AND your goal time for this race! Congrats on your fantastic times! Even with your modified plan you still smoked your goal! Awesome job!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:42 am
CONGRATS! So exciting! You have accomplished so much already today! Enjoy the rest of it!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:42 am
smokin!! congrats on an awesome race
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Amazing!!! You are so inspiring!!!! What a great way to spend a weekend! Bridal shower and wedding activities and then a 10K, what fun!
You did and amazing job, and I love reading your total experience and thought process throughout the 10K, and how you are able to keep yourself going. I’m going to have to practice that.
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Awesome job!!!
Love your lunch!
Good luck with all the business launch stuff!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:55 am
Yay, Cairlin!!!! I KNEW you would do it! What a totally AMAZING time!! You should be soooooooo proud of yourself!! What an inspiration you are to me! You are SO fast!! I feel frustrated because I really don't think I will EVER be that quick
So, mega CONGRATS!!!!!! You're AMAZING & you kicked some serious butt!!! Relax & enjoy today- you deserve it
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 10:10 am
wow congratulations !! that is such a amazing time !! Also your bridal shower looked like such fun
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 10:13 am
Tag you’re it!! Check my blog
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 10:19 am
WAY TO GO!! That is GREAT!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 10:31 am
WAY TO GO, CAITLIN! I was waiting to see this post and am SO happy to hear your broke your PR like that!
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 10:56 am
HUGE CONGRATS CAITLIN!!! you and meghann are both incredible, such inspirations and simply amazing excitement for the blogging world
sensational!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Congratulations on the PR! You crushed your goal time. You are no longer a 10 mm runner. Well done.
Can’t wait to see the site.
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 11:19 am
great job!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 11:30 am
We rocked!
I just checked the stats online and it said I averaged a 8:46 mile! Hell Yeah!! Who would have ever thought I would have paced at that
THanks for encouraging me to go balls to the wall. I would not have been able to do it with out you
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 11:30 am
WOW! You guys did so well. Congratulations! It *was* a perfect racing morning.
It was great meeting you and Meghann this morning. You guys are so sweet and friendly. Sorry I missed you after the race. My time was 55:52, which I am very pleased with. My last few miles were particularly great ~ about 8:40 pace for the last 3 miles!!! I have never done THAT before! Definitely going to be a yoga day for me tomorrow.
I wanted to comment to you this morning that I truly appreciate all your affirmations you post on here and your general positive outlook on life ~ it’s very refreshing.
Have a great day!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 11:34 am
congrats!!!!!!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 11:35 am
CONGRATS!!!!!!!! i think you’re just gonna keep getting faster!!! never doubt yourself. keep it up and something my basketball team used to say “KEEP THIS FEELING” !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
love it
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 11:36 am
wholefood – THANK YOU!
mary-jo: you did so great! we waited until 1 hr, 7 minutes and i was like, we must’ve missed her, she said she would be faster than this…. and you were!! we were probably too busy hugging each other at the 55 minute mark and missed you! congrats on doing your first 10k, if you’re doing the one in december, let me know!
meghann – u rule, obvi
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 11:44 am
Congrats!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
congrats on an AMAZING race!!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Way to go, Caitlin!!! Awesome! We are still waiting for our finish times from the race yesterday…you are motivating me to go for a 10k in the near future.
Congratulations!!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 12:37 pm
WONDERFUL WONDERFUL WONDERFUL JOB!!!!
You even beat my personal record I want to beat! hehe!!!
Awesome job!! I’m so excited for you!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 12:46 pm
Caitlin, I love reading your race recaps. It always makes me want to get out there and run. You admire ME for running on a treadmill? I admire you for doing these races. I want to do more so badly!!!!
Congratulations!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
I'm gonna start training soon. I love running, but I've never run more than two miles or so at a time. I want to run a 10k, dammit! Maybe next time we have a race in Jacksonville, I'll be ready & can come with you guys =]
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Great job! Sounds like your hard work really paid off!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Congrats on such a great race!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
So awesome! You guys did amazingly! That time is fantastic
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
EXCELLENT!!!!!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
Very awesome!! You rocked it! Congrats! Now go and have a great week!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Congrats, girl!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
congrats girls!!! You’re the best!
enjoy the rest of the evening!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
congrats! what an amazing race.
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
Awesome time! 1 million congrats!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Wow! Congrats on your race! Fantastic job!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
Congratulations on your PR!!! I recently had a similar experience of realizing that I was strong enough to run much faster than I had been! It’s a great feeling, isn’t it?
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 5:14 pm
Congrats! That is an awesome time!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 5:49 pm
wow- sounds like the perfect race! congrats on your time!
Kelly Turner
http://www.groundedfitness.com
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 6:19 pm
jordan – you should!!!
thanks so much everyone! your electronic support means a lot!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:10 pm
You are AWESOME, Caitlin! Way to go, girl! I’m so proud of you!
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on Nov 9th, 2008 at 9:26 pm
congrats!!! you kicked butt out there!
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on Nov 10th, 2008 at 8:17 am
great race!!! congrats!
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on Nov 10th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Lave the race report!
Congrats on such an awesome time and realizing that you are much faster than a 10 minute miler! 
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on Nov 10th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Wow, what an amazing time! Congrats!!! Caitlin, you continue to inspire me… I’m so happy for you right now AND I want to go for a run now. Hmm, too bad I’m stuck in the office instead.
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on Nov 12th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Congrats!
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