Race season is off to an EXCELLENT start!  The Rock N Run 5K was so much fun. 

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The weather was perfect, and we had a big, supportive group of friends running together.  I did not set a new PR (personal record), but I wasn’t expecting to (my 5K PR is 23:46).  I crossed the finish line in 26:20, pacing a respectable 8:20/mile. Wahoo!

 

Most of all, this race was FUN!

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My morning started insanely early.  I was up at 5:00 AM.  I like to have enough time to have a real breakfast, stretch, listen to music…. being rushed on race mornings is the worst.  I stuck to my traditional pre-race breakfast, which is PB toast with a banana and coffee:

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Megan and her boyfriend Jason picked me up at 6:05 and we drove to the race, where we met up with all the other couples:

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Kelly and Anthony:

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Katy and Lucas:

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And Meghann and Derek:

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The Husband couldn’t make it (he’s in Palm Coast with our family — I’m actually heading there later today, too), but he was there in spirit!  🙂

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I was pretty nervous and excited before the race.   My heart was thumping out of my chest and I kept jogging in place.   It was happy energy, though.  It just feels SO GOOD to be running and racing again (I was out for a few months due to injury).  I am TRULY thankful for EVERY SINGLE MILE that I get to run, and I will never, ever take a race for granted again.    Running is so special to me.

 

I stretched like crazy before the start, which helped me get rid of some of my nerves:

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My plan for the race was just to run as fast as I could and have a good time.  As I mentioned, I wasn’t too bothered with a specific time goal because I felt undertrained for speed, anyway.  I checked out the course map before we started and was pleased to see a nice, shady route:

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I lined up at the starting line with the 8-minute/mile group and stood next to Kelly.  We both kept looking at each other with huge stupid grins on our faces. 

 

The gun went off and I hightailed it out the gate!  I paced around 7:30-mile for the first mile or so.  I knew I would burn out going at that pace, but I wanted to give myself a decent starting time.

 

This race has two funny stories that greatly impacted my overall time.

 

Funny story #1:  I changed my Garmin this morning to show my overall time, distance, pace, AND time of the day.  My pace used to be in the same spot the time of day is now in.  So, for the first 2.5-miles, I thought I was pacing 7:35, 7:36, 7:37, 7:38-minute miles…. hahaha.  I was AMAZED at how good I felt and visions of setting a record started to swim in my head.

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Needless to say, when I FINALLY figured out that my "pace" was really the TIME, I felt pretty ridiculous!  :)  Oops.

 

Funny story #2:  None-runners might be kind of grossed out by this story.  It’s a little TMI, so excuse me in advance.  Around mile 1.5, I was struck by the urge to pee.   As you may know, your body deems certain biological functions to be ‘unnecessary’ when you are running really fast, and bladder contractions tend to fall into this category.  I ended up dashing into an alley, but I stood up a little early and managed to pee all over my own leg.  I lost a good 45 seconds as a result.  Megan actually had the EXACT SAME ISSUE.  We’re twins!

 

By the time I got to the finish line, I was just relieved it was over!

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Regardless of these slip ups (which, trust me, I’m still laughing about), I managed to pull out a great finishing time and a wonderful overall pace.

 

  • Mile 1: 7:35
  • Mile 2: 8:17
  • Mile 3: 9:14
  • Mile 3 – 0.16 (course was a little long!): 1:15
  • Average Pace: 8:20
  • Overall Time: 26:20

 

Everyone did great and so many people set new PR times!  Check out Megan, Meghann, Katy, and Kelly‘s blogs for their own recaps.

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It was a very fun way to kick off the season!  I’m very proud of everyone.  As I mentioned, I really believe there are NO BAD RACES so even though there were some minor slip ups, I still had a great time.  

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I came home and eat three of the mini pumpkin muffins that Megan gave me.  I also had a Green Monster (spinach, almond milk, and ice).

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I feel refueled and happy. 🙂 Off to shower and hit the road — as mentioned, I’m headed to my in-laws to welcome my sister-in-law to America! 

 

Have a fabulous day!

{ 55 comments }

 

  • Leianna September 12, 2009, 7:17 am

    Great job on the race and understand your 2 little mishaps, too funny!
    Love your stories and great way to start your race season!

  • platipus329 September 12, 2009, 7:18 am

    Congrats! The most important thing was that you had fun but it never hurts to do so well, too!

  • Nicci@NiftyEats September 12, 2009, 7:20 am

    Congrats on your 1st race of the season! Glad you'll had fun.

  • Susan September 12, 2009, 7:20 am

    Congrats Caitlin! Like you said, every race is a great race! 😀 So many cute pictures in here too… You've got me all pumped for my 5k tomorrow 🙂

  • Nicole September 12, 2009, 7:25 am

    Good job on your race!!! I have peed on myself many times too! 😉

    I also wanted to let you know just in case you were a little worried about it, you are going to do fine with running a few times a week for the marathon! As long as you add in speed work to sort of make up for not running 5-6 days a week you should be golden! I only run 3-4 times a week (b/c of triathlon training in other sports), and I just PR'ed today in my half marathon by 8 minutes!!! 1:50 baby!! I only have been doing speed work for 2 months. Don't underestimate it!!!

  • Marisa (Trim The Fat) September 12, 2009, 7:26 am

    LOL @ the pee story!!! Hey, girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

    Congrats on a great race, Caitlin! Looks like a blast:)

  • Mica September 12, 2009, 7:34 am

    Great kick-off to race season! Congratulations on an excellent 5K!

  • Caitlin at Healthy Tipping Point September 12, 2009, 7:34 am

    Nicole – AWESOME on your PR!! that is amazing. It's not that I underestimate speedwork at all – I know how effective it is (its how I set that previous 5K PR), its just that it reallllly aggravates my knees so I mostly avoid it 🙁

  • Sara September 12, 2009, 7:40 am

    Ha ha ha! Your story is so funny and I love the picture of you and the hubby. 🙂

  • Oh She Glows September 12, 2009, 7:41 am

    So prooud of you and all the girls!!!! Your pee story was a hoot…hahaha…when nature calls!!!

    So excited to see you racing again…as you know, YOU are who inspired me to race!!!

  • Mrs. LC September 12, 2009, 7:51 am

    ahahahah!!!!!!! I literally laughed out loud and had to tell Ross why I was laughing – then he started laughing out loud, too.

    Seriously – no one should ever leave you a comment again about "I bet you did/ didn't eat (fill in the blank) last night and that's why you took a night off…you were binging". Why in the world would you hide what you eat when you just told the world you freaking peed on yourself?!

    Have fun with Kristien's family today!

  • Rosey Rebecca September 12, 2009, 7:54 am

    Great job!! I'm not a runner but I thought both of your stories were hilarious!

  • Kristin (Kristin's Nibbles) September 12, 2009, 8:06 am

    Haha!! I HATE having to pee during a race, but, when you gotta go you gotta go! I love your honesty =)

    And congrats on a great race! You're right back into it, you'll be a speed demon again before you know it!!

    xo
    K

  • Sarah September 12, 2009, 8:21 am

    That's so funny! I dive, and they always say, "there are two types of divers…those that pee in their wetsuit and those that lie about it!" I guess that works for runners, too 🙂

    http://fittipexchange.wordpress.com/

  • Meganerd September 12, 2009, 8:32 am

    Glad you liked my muffins!

    So… I love that the FIRST thing I said to you when you crossed the finish line is, "i peed my pants!" and you were like, "ME TOO!"

    We rock.

  • Valerie (College Girl Eats) September 12, 2009, 8:39 am

    Glad to see you all had a great time! I love your upbeat and positive attitude regarding everything with the race. We often take ourselves too seriously and end up not enjoying things like running!

  • Jessica September 12, 2009, 8:41 am

    Looks like you had an awesome race! Congrats on your time!

  • greensandjeans September 12, 2009, 9:05 am

    Congrats to a great start to race season! Once during a 10K a girl running next to me actually peed while running because she didn't want to lose any time. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed.

  • ~Jessica~ September 12, 2009, 9:38 am

    Congratulations! And the whole 'bladder contractions becoming abesent' thing happens to so many people, including top athletes!

    So happy you're back into the racing groove ~ there really isn't any other feeling like it : )

  • Jolene - EverydayFoodie September 12, 2009, 9:46 am

    Great job on the race!!!

  • Jennifer September 12, 2009, 10:00 am

    Congrats! It sounds like you guys had a lot of fun! I had a similar experience with my Garmin last weekend at my half-marathon. I got to the 6-mile mark and I looked down at my time and I was like WOW I'm doing GREAT! So then I look again about a 1/2 mile later and realize it says the same time. My Garmin had stopped on its own and it took me that long to notice. I was so mad that it had stopped working and that I wasn't doing quite as amazing as I thought. 😛 Ohh well.

    I really enjoyed your race recap! Great job!

  • runnerskitchen September 12, 2009, 10:04 am

    Congratulations on the race!! I also raced today (first time in many months) and while it wasn't anywhere near a PR, I felt so HAPPY to be running 🙂 I think being injured and taking time off really helps you to appreciate the wonderful-ness of running. Have a great weekend!

  • runsarah September 12, 2009, 10:15 am

    Congrats, how fun!! The pee story is too funny too!

  • skinnyrunner September 12, 2009, 10:18 am

    great race, looks like so much fun with all your friends! cute pics too.

  • Lizzy September 12, 2009, 10:29 am

    Congrats girl!!!! yay for the race season to begin! 🙂 So proud of you!

    Glad you had so much fun 🙂

  • Jenna September 12, 2009, 10:43 am

    Awesome job Caitlin! You girls totally rocked, you should all be proud of yourselves 🙂

    I love to have peanut butter toast the night before a long run too. It may just be all in my head, but I think it helps fuel me!

    Have a wonderful day!

  • Taylor September 12, 2009, 10:49 am

    Wahooo awesome recap. And hilarious Garmin story. I can see myself doing the same thing. Like you said – no BAD races at all. I'm sure the sidelined injured knee runner you were months ago is screaming with joy that you just finished an awesome 5k 🙂

  • Amelia (AC/DC: Highways to Health) September 12, 2009, 10:56 am

    Congrats on the run! Sounds like a great kickoff to your racing season. 🙂

  • mamasweeds September 12, 2009, 11:00 am

    Congratulations!! I totally laughed and saw where the pace/time story was going.

    Funny that this is just the "start" of race season in FL. In upstate NY we're nearing the END of race season!

    Changes in latitude, changes in attitude, as Jimmy Buffet would say!

    Congrats again on a fab race!

  • Kiersten September 12, 2009, 11:05 am

    Congrats on the race! Too funny about the pee story! Haha. I am sure it happens to a lot of runners.

  • Miz September 12, 2009, 11:07 am

    YOU ROCK!!!

    love all the photos as well.

  • Jenna September 12, 2009, 11:09 am

    congrats on the race today caitlin!
    the mishaps were kinda funny 🙂
    jenna

  • anjer September 12, 2009, 11:10 am

    hey, congratulations to all of you! my doctor has ordered me to "absolutely NO running for 4-6 weeks" and then i'll slowly be able to rebuild my mileage… i'm living vicariously through you and your friends! also, knowing you had similar issues and are now able to run pain-free gives me so much hope! thanks, caitlin!

  • Tami September 12, 2009, 11:15 am

    great job!

  • katerina September 12, 2009, 11:46 am

    Congratulations, it is so exciting that race season has started!

    I have had similar issues when jumping rope, when you gotta go, you gotta go, doesn't matter what you are doing!

  • *Andrea* September 12, 2009, 12:35 pm

    congrats caitlin!!! you are so amazing. i hope i can start doing more races like you and continue to push myself while having fun 🙂

  • Julie @savvyeats September 12, 2009, 1:31 pm

    Congrats, and I love your Operation Beautiful message on your back!

  • Deirdre September 12, 2009, 1:34 pm

    Great job on the race! One of my favorite things about your blog is how honest you are about EVERYTHING. The pee story is a great example of that. Thanks for being you.

  • teacherwoman September 12, 2009, 1:59 pm

    Congrats, Caitlin! Great race report! And I love your positive attitude!

  • Whitney@whitsgettingfit September 12, 2009, 2:09 pm

    Great time! Peeing on yourself? Happens to the best of us!

  • chandra September 12, 2009, 2:32 pm

    Lately during my long runs whenever we stop at our water stops I always feel like I have to pee… and sometimes you just can't completely control it! lol Great work!!

  • Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now September 12, 2009, 3:03 pm

    Not sure whether I should laugh at that story or not… glad you have such a great attitude, and that you had a fun time!

  • april September 12, 2009, 3:09 pm

    Thanks for being so honest about the little pee accident! That is such a funny story! 🙂

  • Pam (Highway to Health) September 12, 2009, 4:37 pm

    Congrats on the great race!!

    The mishap is so funny! The same thing would definitely happen to me!

  • Erica September 12, 2009, 6:25 pm

    Great job chica! Love that you guys all did this together. So much fun! Enjoy the rest of your weekend with the fam

  • Happy Feet 26.2 September 12, 2009, 6:29 pm

    That is too funny about the Garmin. About my Garmin – I always say, I can only operate it if I am running solo. If I am running with a friend, I always mess something up.

  • Morgan September 12, 2009, 6:35 pm

    I am so in love with the operation beautiful note you pinned on your back. Congratulations on your run!

  • Paige@ Running Around Normal September 12, 2009, 6:53 pm

    Great job, Caitlin!!! That is a hilarious story – I literally LOL'd reading it.

  • NYgirl@heart September 12, 2009, 7:18 pm

    Love your pee story! (umm, in a not-so-gross kind of way) Too funny! Awesome job and what a great way to kick off the race season!!

  • angieinatlanta September 12, 2009, 8:23 pm

    I love your racing attitude! I'm glad you didn't let a few slip-ups ruin the whole experience!

    I've never done a race before but I'm seriously considering signing up for a 5K; your post definitely gave me a little more motivation!

  • Thinspired September 13, 2009, 2:38 am

    Awesome job, Caitlin! I am so inspired by your strong mileage times. Even with your little pee-incident (hehe), I can't believe your speed!

  • Lauren @ Dragonflies Journey September 13, 2009, 3:37 pm

    Awesome Job, Caitlin (and to the rest of the runners also). It's so inspiring to read your blogs post-run. I love them.

  • Trainer T.s Fitness September 14, 2009, 9:30 am

    Great race recap and awsome time!

    I love the treat afterwards, it makes me hungry.

    You RAWK!

  • Cat Cat September 15, 2009, 6:10 pm

    palm coast? I grew up there!

  • Amanda May 24, 2014, 10:05 pm

    Hi there!

    Just ran into your blog online. Fun! I just ran a 5k up here in Ottawa Ontario. As soon as I finished the race, I thought I was Gona have the same pee problem as you! All turned out ok. Ran a 24:55. Took everything in me to do so.

    Glad you enjoy running.
    Amanda

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