In 2011, I had a revelation that if you want to be a certain type of person, you have to behave in a certain way (duh, Caitlin). If I want to be nicer, I need to stop gossiping. If I want to do community service, I actually have to volunteer. If I want a better marriage, I need to make the effort. If I want to be active and healthy, I actually have to do it… not just wish it from the couch while watching a Law and Order marathon. Sounds pretty obvious, but I really tried to embody the concept this year… be the person you want to be. And that’s why I decided to spend the morning of 12/31/2011 ‘setting the tone’ for the next year with a fun 5K.
The New Year New You 5K was the smallest race that I have ever done. I love small races (cheaper, less traffic), but I have never done a 40-person event before!
The 5K was in a really pretty neighborhood with rolling hills. I was a bit concerned at the start that I would get separated from the pack and get lost (I knew there wasn’t police support) but the course was well-marked with chalk arrows, and I was always near someone else.
This was BabyHTP’s second race – we did a 5K earlier this month, too! My goal for this race was the run the entire time. I woke up feeling rather sore (mysteriously sore – I’m at that point in pregnancy that I get sore from just laying the wrong way in bed) so I didn’t set any time goals.
Predictably, I helped bring up the rear.
Nothin’ wrong with hanging out in the back… I’m getting my money’s worth that way! More time on the course.
But guess what? I ended up beating my previous pregnancy 5K time by nearly a whole minute – I finished in 30:27. I was pretty surprised and proud when I saw the clock. Running is definitely getting harder, but there’s something to be said for pacing well!
Pre-race fuel was a large bowl of banana oats:
And post-race, I went far too long without a snack and ended up housing an entire frozen pizza out of hunger.
And now I’m going to face-plant back in bed for a lovely snooze. Three cheers for holidays on a Saturday!
Happy New Year’s Eve!
Do you prefer large races or small races? Why?
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{ 37 comments… read them below or add one }
If you are running for speed then smaller races. You’ll be able to fly from start to finish without running around people the whole time.
However, large races usually have a certain degree of excitement and anticipation in the air. I feel that vibe motivates me to push as fast as I can and do my absolute best.
I would love to race in a small event, sounds perfect to me! And what a way to end the year, just means tomorrow you’ll start of healthy and happy for 2012!
Happy New Year to you, Husband, & BabyHTP (along with Maggie and James!)
Happy new year to you too!
Medium sized ones! I did R&R Las Vegas and that was wayyyyyyy too big, but I’ve done a few small ones and I felt like I was the slowest one there. I guess it’s a vanity issue
I prefer larger races for longer distances because there seems to be more runner support. But for shorter distances, I like the smaller races, mostly because I am more likely to do well comparatively!
I signed up for a 10K tomorrow. I like the concept of starting the new year in a healthy way.
I prefer large races
They may be more money but the feeling of knowing you have competition, having to beat someone, and seeing people run by you/you run by them is amazing. Plus all the cool stuff is a plus hah!
I had to LOL at your mention of the Law & Order marathan, cuz I just posted on my FB that the Criminal Minds marathon I’ve been watching is threatening to eat up my entire afternoon
Congrats on beating your race time!
Criminal minds sucked me in last night.
Small races are fun but I do love big races for longer distances. I love the camaraderie of it all! So much fun! Happy New Year!
You rock! Way to embody that concept and GO for it and what YOU want. Way to knock 2011 dead!
And I like mid-sized races–too small and I feel kinda silly (weird, I know) but too large and I feel so insignificant. Hah.
Have a good nap!
Way to go Caitlin!
Sometimes the simplest things (be the person you want to be) are the hardest things to get. Loved this post!
I like large races for crowd support- I did the Chicago Marathon this year and there were over a million spectators all around the course, which really helped me not want to quit! Then again, I threw up on the side of the road and about a thousand people saw
I would LOVEEEEEEEEE to do Chicago. It seems so awesome.
Oh man, I’m definitely at the point where I get sore for no reason too. My hips and ribs get sore from sleeping. They say your bones tend to get soft to get ready for delivery. A nice massage from the hubs helps. =) Congrats on the race!
I hope you aren’t too sick of all the constant advice from everyone. When I was pregnant laying on my back was just awful. I avoided it at all costs. Ultrasounds sucked because they couldn’t incline it enough to take away the pain of laying down. But otherwise I just didn’t do it. I was able to sleep comfortably by laying on my side, bending my top leg and laying it over to where it was on the bed. Make sense? That seemed to help me stretch and stay comfy in bed. I also tried to do lots of cat/cow yoga poses and rolling back and forth from those positions. Had very bad psiatic nerve pain on the left hip side and both of those helped ease some pain.
I don’t mind advice
I am having lots of pain in my abductor muscles – I wonder if switching up my sleeping position will help with that. I plan to ask my midwife on Tuesday!
Congrats to you and Baby HTP for a great race! I think it’s so inspirational that you are continuing running and fitness throughout your pregnancy!
I also tried to embody this concept this morning with a nice outdoor run (especially since the temperature is oddly in the 60s in Missouri today). I am super excited to start marathon training first thing in 2012!
Congrats on the preggo PR
I like “inbetween” sized races. Enough people that it’s lively and fun but not too many that it’s super crowded on the course.
I’m always scared that I’ll get lost at races! Way to go on ending the year on the right note!*
That’s great that you did a 5k this morning! I have done one for the past 2 years which is at 8 p.m. tonight. I am doing it tonight too and it will be Baby Heslop’s first 5k race even though we have ran further distances. I agree it does set the tone for the start of the year! I don’t care about the size of the race, unless it’s a half or full. For those two distances, I prefer the bigger races, then you are never alone
I hope you and Baby had fun!!!
Great job!
I like both big and small races – just racing really!
Great idea!
It is always hard for me to leave the Law&Order marathons. Caught one yesterday and was loving it!
I love getting up early normally, but there’s something to be said for a nice, relaxing Saturday !
That’s a great way to start off the new year! I’ve never done such a small race, but I’m sure it would be fun!
The beginning of this post really spoke to me! I really need to stop saying “I want to do such and such” and instead just DO it!
Congrats on your race today!
I love small races. Large ones are too stressful and you often have to wait long for your race time.
I’ve only run two races, and both were relatively large. I loved them both, though! It was nice to be surrounded by people the whole race!
I am always in the back for a small race and I love it when the organizers keep it open for me
I love all races! Medium to small is my preferred. I’ve been bummed lately since a local race director has stopped giving out medals
A finisher hat just doesn’t do it for me. I’ll pay the couple bucks – I ran – give me a medal!
What a great way to end 2011/start 2012
I was racing on the 31st too – my first half marathon and I’m for sure going to do it next year as well. A fantastic way of ending the year 
I love big races, but in Denmark big races are hardly ever more than 2-3500 people, so they’re probably medium sized compared to US. The atmosphere can be amazing at those events, music and lots of excitement!
Congrats on a great race time, love your optimistic attitude
Hope you had a relaxing and fabulous time celebrating the new year… Best wishes for 2012!
Cute – pregnancy PR. I like it.
Im always a back of the pack finisher no matter what the race size but at least Im there running/walking my little heart out. Happy New Year!!
I prefer anything over 5k. I really enjoy half marathons.
I participated in a 8k prediction run yesterday. It was alot of fun. Happy new year. I really enjoy reading your blog.
Way to rock the 5k! I like both big and small races…its fun to know you can maybe win in the smaller races but there is nothing like the energy of big ones!
A 40 person race is sure small! I have never done one that small, but I think I would enjoy it more than a large race. The larger ones tend to get annoying because there is always so many people in the way. I’m not a fan of walking across the finish line because there are so many people piled up you can’t even run.
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