Last week I ran my first 10 mile race at the Yankee Homecoming in Newburyport, MA. This was the longest race that I had ever competed in. I typically would have chosen to run the 5K, but since my Dad is racing a half marathon in the fall, we both agreed to sign up for the 10-miler instead. Going into the race, I did not know what to expect. I was nervous, excited and anxious. As the race approached, these feelings only grew stronger. Although I was nervous, I was confident in my training. My mileage had been high and my training was consistent. This reassured me and helped me feel prepared for the race.
After weeks of anticipation, the day of the race finally arrived. My Mom dropped me and my Dad off and wished us good luck. When we arrived at the race area, it was a little overwhelming. There was music playing, announcements being made over the intercom, and people everywhere we looked. We picked up our race numbers and made our way over to the starting line. Since my Dad and I were planning to run different paces, we split up at the line. I heard the announcer give the two minute warning. I looked around at all of the runners that surrounded me. Some of them were jumping in place, letting out their nerves. Others were getting their watches ready, anxiously awaiting the start of the race. There were people of all ages. Some of them were looking to get PRs, while others just wanted to finish. We all had different goals, came from different places, but for those last moments before the race started, we were all unified. The announcer made one final encouraging statement and everyone cheered. The horn went off and suddenly everything became quiet.
Throughout each mile of the race I learned something different about myself as a runner. Each mile required different skills, some of which I possessed, and others that I had to learn. Here is a glimpse into my 10 mile race experience.
Mile 1: Patience
Ask any runner- the first mile of a race is crucial and can be very difficult to manage. With all of the pent-up nervous energy and pre-race jitters, it can be easy to go out too fast and forget about your race strategy. When people were passing me during the first mile I was tempted to speed up and go with them. However, remembering the longevity of the race, I decided to be patient and wait to make my move.
Mile 2: Rhythm
My first mile pace was 7:50, which was faster than I had anticipated. Since I felt comfortable, I didn’t want to slow down too much. However, I wanted to make sure I was running a pace that I could sustain for the entire race. I decided that I would aim to run an 8-minute mile pace. I finally found my rhythm and began to settle into the race.
Mile 3: Calmness
After I worked into a comfortable rhythm, I was able to relax and enjoy the race. I started paying more attention to my surroundings. I noticed the old, historic New England houses I was running by. I noticed the cute shops and watched as people waved from inside. I started to feel the cool, ocean breeze. I focused on my breathing. As my mind relaxed, my body did as well. “24:03” I heard my 3 mile split and smiled. I was on pace!
Mile 4: Gratitude
I also began to notice the many people who were helping us throughout the race. There were people handing out water and orange slices. People were cheering for their loved ones, offering encouraging words. Local neighbors turned on their hoses, allowing runners to cool off. Policemen were holding traffic, making sure we had plenty of room to run. I was amazed at the amount of people who were graciously taking time out of their busy days. Thanks to these volunteers, my race felt much smoother and more enjoyable.
Mile 5: Confidence
During the fifth mile of the race I began to feel more confident. I had already completed the first half of the race and I felt great. Although 10 miles is a long run for me, 5 miles is one of my regular ones. I kept thinking “just five more miles-that’s nothing.” This positive thinking recharged me, giving me a little spring in my step and motivating me to pick up the pace.
Mile 6: Self-control
Although I felt very confident, I reminded myself that the race was far from over. I had done so well throughout the race and I did not want to mess it up by starting my kick too soon. I disciplined myself to stay with the pack and wait a couple more miles before I really started to make my move.
Mile 7: Strength
Up until this point, I had felt great. However, during the seventh mile my body and my brain began to feel drained. Although I knew that I was approaching the finish, it felt so far away. I saw people who had been running next to me start walking. I thought of how nice that would feel and was tempted to do the same. But I didn’t. I had come this far and I was not going to stop.
Mile 8: Focus
With only 3 miles left in the race, I knew that I needed to start focusing on the finish. It was time to get out of my comfort zone and start reeling people in. I looked at my watch. I had already run for an hour. Knowing that I would be done in about 20 minutes was so comforting. So I started reeling people in, knowing that with each step I was getting closer to the finish.
Mile 9: Perseverance
I heard the crowd cheer “2 miles to go!”- Words to my ears. Fortunately the excitement of the crowd distracted me from the pain in my legs. I looked at where I was. We had driven on this road on our way to the race. I was so close and I was going to finish with a great time. I grabbed a cup of water, poured it over my head and kept going.
Mile 10: Hunger
After running 9 miles, you would think that 1 mile would go by so fast- it didn’t. The last mile felt like the longest mile of the race. My body was tired, hungry and exhausted. I wanted nothing more than to cross the finish line and be done. I let the crowd carry me through the last mile, each word motivating me to keep going and reminding me how close I was to the finish. I turned the last corner of the race and heard my Mom’s voice. I saw my time just ahead and I sprinted, going after it. My final time was 1:21:11. I was so proud. I grabbed a popsicle and made my way over to my Mom, who was already running toward me. We cheered on my Dad as he finished the race and treated ourselves to dinner and ice cream. Food never tasted so good!
This race was a milestone in my running career. When I began distance running three years ago, I never would have imagined that I would be running 10 miles, let alone racing them! This race showed me what my body is capable of and reminded me that hard work pays off. I am so proud of my Dad for finishing the race and can’t wait to see him run the half marathon in the fall! Who knows- maybe I’ll run a half marathon someday. Well...baby steps.
