Do not eat anything new on race day. I knew this, I did, and yet somehow when I got to the Gu station at mile 9 I was like “hey! Free gu!” and sucked a whole one into my mouth. HUGE, gut-wrenching mistake. Literally. Let’s leave it at that.
When you pass the race photographer on mile nine and decide that it would be really funny/cool to make a badass face at him, reconsider. No, seriously:
Bring Kleenex. At the last second before leaving the hotel, I stuck a couple of Kleenexes in my pocket. This came in very handy when the porta potties near the starting line ran out of toilet paper and there were huge long lines of women waiting for the few that still had paper. I was able to dash into one of the ones that had none, bypassing the line.
If you’ve trained over the winter in Chicago, you may feel like a total weather badass, but you will be ill-prepared for heat. Remember to drink water, probably at every station, so you don’t enter mile 11 feeling like a dessicated lump.
If at all possible, run in a city with many delicious options for entirely decadent post-race food. This might be the only time you can have a huge fried oyster po’boy totally guilt-free. Followed by beignets. According to Erin’s Body Bugg, we burned a couple thousand calories running that thing, and I made every effort to eat them all back that afternoon.
Bring a sherpa/fan/individual cheerleading section. Alice came down to cheer us on and I swear to god, seeing her homemade poster saying “go pseudo!” 100 yards from the finish line was the only thing that gave me the boost to sprint for the end. Plus, she very kindly carried my gear bag for me so I could avoid gear check. PLUS she kept me company so I didn’t have to wander around the city alone with my nerves on Saturday. And she drank Pimms Cups with me out of plastic cups in the middle of the day. Good friend, that Alice.
Do not schedule your flight out of town for the night of the race. You will sit down in your plane seat, bound for a work trip to California, and four hours later you will actually have to grab onto the seat in front of you and hoist yourself up by your arms to disembark, because your legs will have frozen in protest and be unwilling to help.
Relatedly: don’t go on a work trip to California the day after the race.
Run with friends. I joined this NOLA training group kind of on a whim, but I’m so glad I did. I got to train with the lovely and amazing Danielle and Erin, and we shuffled through the starting corrals together with Linda, which helped calm my nerves, and then afterwards I got to hang out with AB and Vince, the funniest residents of Monroe, Louisiana that I’ve ever met. I was proud of myself for running, but it was the crowd that made the whole thing into a party.
You CAN do this. I ran my first 5K, a torturous, sputtering affair, less than a year ago. I spent the first 30 years of my life telling anyone who would listen how unathletic I am, how I have asthma, how I can’t run outside. And then, I did this. I’m still kind of stunned.
On top of not flying home the day of the race, I’d also add that you should spend as much time walking around as possible. I did that after a number of long-distance races and it really helped stretch my legs, helping to avoid the worst tightening up in the coming days.
Also? I feel your pain on the training in cold, running in heat. I trained through the winter for a marathon that was in San Diego. 76 degrees and salty air. It was awful. Well, I mean as awful as spending a long weekend in San Diego can really be. ha.
Congrats again!
GO YOU!!
I know this is corny but I’m so proud of you!
Yay! I’m so proud of you! And also jealous of that oyster po-boy.
I TOTALLY did a big goofy ass thumbs up for the official race photog around Mile 8. Also? I love Pimm’s cups.
Congrats!
(PS Here’s my post-race tip for you: KEEP RUNNING. I let 48 days lapse between my 13.1 miles and the next run I took. Suddenly, 3 miles is a struggle again. Don’t let that hard work and training go to waste. Also? Book a massage after the next race. Almost better than the post-race beer. And in your case, beignets!)
You are such a rock star!!!!
Congrats! That is so awesome! I’m glad you did so well and had a good trip! I’m still bummed I couldn’t make it down to help cheer you on with Alice!
And now I want beignets.
AWESOME, AWESOME, AWESOME! Oh, thanks for this: You CAN do this. I ran my first 5K, a torturous, sputtering affair, less than a year ago.
How lovely that Alice came to cheer you on! That is so sweet, thoughtful, kick ass, and well, Alice.
Congratulations! I am so impressed that you did this (and with a great time, too).
I also love that Alice came to cheer you guys on – so nice!
I’m almost 36, have asthma, and am preparing to run my first 5K in June, so this is very inspirational.
That Gu anecdote made me nervous. Oooff.
YOU GUYS ROCKED IT SO HARD
honestly, i thiiiiiink i might be inspired to try for a 5k now. MAYBE. we’ll see. maybe.
i love that pimm’s cup picture of us!
Good for you! I feel like everyone who’s ever blogged has now run a marathon or at least a dang 5K or SOMETHING and now I’m just going to have to get over my whole bad knee thing and go run something someday, too!
“I spent the first 30 years of my life telling anyone who would listen how unathletic I am, how I have asthma, how I can’t run outside.”
I totally remember that! Really cool, I think you’ve inspired me to sign up for a half marathon. When I come visit Chicago this year, we can all go for a run… Or a Cubs game.
You’ve inspired me. This year I finally buy some real running shoes and try this running thing everyone keeps talking about.
I run my first 5K this month. I’m downright TERRIFIED but reading inspiring posts like this, I get all “WHOO, I CAN DO IT, HELL YEAH.” OK, so I’m still terrified but also really, really excited. Thank you for that.
I’ll say it again: I am SO crazy proud of you and wish I had been there to offer support.
When’s the next local race? I’ll SO be there!!!
love this.
running my first half tomorrow morning. great thoughts. thanks for sharing with the rest of us first timers