Race Recaps: Turkey Trot 5k and USATF Half Marathon Champs!

My hands trembled as I put on my racing shoes for the Tallahassee Turkey Trot 5k. The goal was ambitious, a 13 second PR on a course with some rolling hills to snag the course record.

I state that I can’t believe how nervous I am for a local 5k and that’s its 50/50 whether I can hit my goal. A friend tells me that race day is a time to showcase my talent, an opportunity to show how hard I’ve been working, and I take this to heart.

I felt pretty good from the start, setting my watch to 0.5 mi splits so I wouldn’t have to keep obsessively checking it and would get more frequent updates on whether I was on pace or not.

I ran with my friend Trevor until he split off for the 15k route. It was nice having someone to run with. The effort was very tough and my chest burned. The splits seemed alright, but I knew it would be close. I saw a bit higher, a 2:45, but this was the hardest part of the course. The next split was 2:35, I was still on my 2:39-2:40 goal pace. As I crested the last hill and sprinted down, I felt like I was flailing and tried to keep my stride somewhat in line and not so floppy. As I turned to the finish and saw the clock it was at 16:0X and counting – I sprinted with all I had, and it appeared I tied the record. I cursed under my breath. Later I learned I had in fact tied the record with a 16:26. Out of all the times, I hit it smack on. I thought that was a bit funny, but I was still super happy with such a big PR.

Fast forward 10 days and I’m feeling decent going into the USATF Half Marathon Championships. I forgot my watch charger, which led to a bit of stress, but I had turned my watch off for several days straight and was pretty sure it would last the race.

Race day I warmed up with Chris and my friend Kelsey. A bit longer and slower than I was planning but still felt pretty good. The race started a bit late, 8:50am, and the temperature was rising quickly and the sun coming out. It was so cool to line up to so many elite women… many of which I follow on social media and really admire for their work ethic day in and out as well as their mental toughness, all of which they manage without taking themselves too seriously and while having fun.

I line up in the middle of the pack, where my time seems to be, as we start off. I know I don’t want to go out fast, right around 5:40, maybe a touch faster if I’m feeling good. I wasn’t feeling great, so I stayed at 5:40, despite this being on the slow end of my goal. I really wanted to run sub 1:14, and closer to the 1:13:30 range (5:36/mile). However, which two races in the 20 days leading up, and a full marathon only 8 weeks prior, I wasn’t sure I could PR by this much. Around mile 6-7 I decide to try for a bit faster, moving around a couple girls leading our small pack. I run 5:35, and the effort seems immense. A water stop is ahead, and I grab a cup then settle back to 5:40 pace. This really sucks, but I’ll just have to settle for a time around my PR it seems. Every race can’t be a huge PR so this will still be a great effort in a strong field.

The back half is when my stomach also really started to protest. It started with extreme nausea and acid reflux, then a strong side stitch, the latter of which I was able to relieve by digging my fingers just under my ribcage. I still try to pick it up as I see slower than 5:40 splits, but I feel like I’m about to puke and feel overheated as well so can’t manage to go faster. I’m just trying to hold on at this point and make it to the finish line without slowing even further. I see 1:14 on the clock and just make it under with a 1:14:52. I threw up bright yellow, stomach acid I imagine. I throw up again. I need shade. I feel so overheated and sick. I see Chris and we manage to find some shade and I sit down for awhile. I feel good enough for a slow cool down, the last thing I want is for my legs to tighten up on the 4.5 hours ride home.

Reflecting on this half, I’m honestly amazed I was able to run as fast as I did and place so well (21st) in the deep field. My stomach hurts the rest of the day, and the following day. I never throw up unless I'm sick, so it must have been a bit of a stomach bug. My quads feel a bit sore, and I bike for a couple days to give my legs a break from the pounding and set myself up for a long build for Houston half and Snickers marathon.

Photo cred: Anthony Duran

A friend pointed out that I have incredible range. A marathon PR, 10k PR, 5k PR, and within 30 seconds of my half PR all in a matter of 8 weeks. Of course, I had to sacrifice some longer volume workouts and be strategic about my mileage placement as well as training through the 10k. The challenge of all the racing, both mentally and physically, was so much fun. I wouldn’t trade any of it, even though the last race didn’t go as well as I hoped. 

I made a recent change, hiring a coach. I still feel like I don’t have everything figured out training wise, and with the new lofty marathon Olympic trials standards I really think a coach with experience coaching elites in this distance will benefit me. I’m looking forward to getting in a solid 5-week uninterrupted block for the Houston half marathon under the guidance of James McKirdy and hoping for a better day! Then I'll gear up for a full marathon, hoping to lower my PR!