Number 2: Run Four [Road Races]

Ok, so this was supposed to be about running four pikermis. But I decided to give myself a slight handicap after I ran pikermi number one and explodinated my foot.

I figure, I’m allowed to dial the distance back a little if I spent six months barely able to walk, let alone run.

Which I did.

Ouch.

So, I ran one pikermi, two 10Ks and a 5K. It was supposed to be three 10Ks, but I’m giving myself an extra, extra handicap because it was so effing hot on Monday.

Race 1: The Worcester Half Marathon

(Do you like how I thought I’d be back to running in a few days? Waaaaaaaah).

Race 2: The Pasadena 10K

(Otherwise known as the race where I pretended to be a celebrity)

Race 3: The Harvard Pilgrim 10K

(Happy birthday, America. It’s stupid hot out).

And, finally, the Malden 10K, otherwise known as the Malden 5K, otherwise known as the race where I almost melted like a popsicle.

(The thing I like about this photo is the part where you can kindof sortof tell that I’ve lost 5-6 pounds).

(Ok, half of that is the angle of the photo).

Do you remember how I complained about how crazy it is to start a race at 10am? Well, I did. So, what did I do? I signed up for a race that started at 11am. Because I’m not very bright. And I don’t learn.

By 9am, it was over 80 degrees out. Which is about the point where I realized that I was well and truly screwed.

This was a pretty casual race. They didn’t have timing chips. Our bibs said “Michelob Ultra” on them. The race organizers didn’t concern themselves with little details like asking for ID before handing out your number or ascertaining which race you planned to run in. Which is a good thing because, spoiler alert, I totally wimped out and ran the 5K instead of the 10K.

It started hot, it just got hotter. I had spent the evening before eating disgusting amounts of ice cream. I didn’t really train enough. I pretty much set myself up to fail. Which is why, when we were two blocks from the 5K finish line and I had my choice about whether or not to go right and finish or go straight and keep running, I chose to stick a fork in myself.

I was done.

Do I feel bad that I wussed out? Kindof. Am I mad at myself because I didn’t train or prepare better? Definitely.

Did I feel a little better about myself when I saw a dude getting treated for heat exhaustion before getting loaded into an ambulance? Maybe. Do I feel like a total douche for saying that. Oh hells yeah.

It’s sometimes hard for me to tell the difference between being smart/not hurting myself and not pushing myself enough. After spending so much time hurt last year, I feel like I need to err on the side of not doing myself grievous bodily damage. But I also know that I need to test my limits or I’ll never get stronger/faster.

I’m honestly not sure if I had another 5K in me.

I guess the important thing to keep in mind is that, this time last year, I could barely walk and I wasn’t sure when I was going to be able to run again. To have subsequently finished two 10Ks, a 5K and a Warrior Dash is nothing to sneeze at.

Now I need to pick another race.

And train properly this time.