Lilac 10k: Beautiful Mistakes

 Because why would we do rational things after Ironman?

This race write up/post Ironman blog is kind of a few weeks behind - the  actual 10k was May 21, but still worth noting, mostly because of the epic shitshow that it was.  You think I poop rainbows and sunshine?  Hah! Read on, folks!

So, after Texas, I did all the wrong things.  (Are we shocked?)  I knew it.  My coach knew it.  My coach knew that I knew it, but like the good guy he is, he only intervened when he got nervous.  I didn't train, but I certainly didn't recover, either.  I did what I wanted, when I wanted to do it, and how I wanted to do it - namely in the form of shit swim yards, shit bike miles, and shit run miles.  Some of those shit miles were super fun, mind you, but all shit.

I looked toward the summer with a few goals in mind - namely, swim form and getting my bike to operate the way I wanted.  I've talked a bit with a swim coach, and picked up a few tips to try (some I'm better at following than others) and also played a lot with my bike in terms of adjustments for fit and fixing the damned auto chain drop.  Felix (that's my bike) has been playing well on his own terms, and it took me far too long to get the hint that maybe I was the problem.

But the "race" (yes, thats in air quotes for a reason)- that came first.  Let's talk about it.  After two weeks of bullshit post Texas, I started back up with training - training lite. ….about half the volume of Ironman build. It wasn't crazy intense, but my metrics were way off (are we shocked?  its amazing how smart I can be with my athletes yet so stupid myself.  Yes, I own this). I wasn't failing anything, but my body without a doubt was reminding me that I pushed hard for a Kona spot for 4 months.  And then....a Boston spot for 3 months before that .  Basically, I had been going since November 2021 with a whole whopping 4 week break.  Duh.  I, of course, as "May Rae" did not grasp this yet, so when my running buddies suggested the Lilac 10k two days before the race I said...sounds terrible....what time??  LOL

Race day - on the heels of one of the most shit -tastic weekends I've had in years, I woke up with very few expectations.  I might know how to run low and slow, but I hadn't raced an open 10k since....2012??  My PR was a 44:01, a split from a half marathon.  Welp, let's see what we can do!  

My coach offered only two words of advice - "Get em".  With scientific instructions like that, I added in my own complicated variables of little sleep, a wicked stomachache, a super messy life, and zero speedwork and we were gonna go for anything under an 8 minute mile. Aim low, have fun - right?

 Very fittingly, I went to the race with my bestie, Laura (said fellow dumpster fire friend - though lets not kid ourselves, she nailed the race and I am not worthy for her coattails (yes, that's a joke)).  Regardless, she had me laughing and ready to have a blast - which was the point and so much needed - I love that girl!

The actual race?  Oh you wanna know about that?  Well, lets call it a beautiful mistake.  The 10k course was about 1.5 miles of downhill, a few rollers, and then a gradual climb to the finish.  I lined up behind Dumpster Fire Dave and his friend Inga (who regularly run mid 6s) and took a few super serious selfies with Laura's sister, Megan.  I had zero expectations other than a great pain face at the finish, which, with my current mental and physical state, was probably the smartest goal I set.  Before I knew it - we were off!

And, as follows, is my race - otherwise known as how to epically F*ck up a 10k.  We can do this one in
ten easy steps - its much more fun that way!

1.  Run the first mile out of the gate as fast as you can.  Hit the mile marker in 6:32 - realizing this is your second fastest mile ever in a race.  Realize that this is very, very bad.

2.  Make casual conversation with the runner that you tried to outkick at Running of the Green as you're gasping for breath, and she is ya know - actually racing.  Wave cheerily as she takes off.

3.  Throw down high fives and dance moves at the RRC tent and join the party.  Wait, I'm supposed to race?

4.  Hit the 5k point in 22:01 and realize that you have fully, and completely, run out of gas.  But you....signed up for the 10k. Shit.

5.  Walk the next two hills like the sucker you are, playing Maroon 5's "Beautiful Mistakes" on repeat on your ipod.  This song was made for me.

6.  Take a deep breath and laugh at your idiocy for this race and enjoy the sunshine - smile and realize that even though your life is an epic disaster there is really...nowhere else in the world you would want to be (I think part of this has merit!)

7.  Take the final mile with a smile and hand slap those wonderful RRC folks again!

8.  Throw down crazy pain face, complete with jazz hands, to your own personal photographer thats yelling crap at you as you try to run to the finish (Thanks Brian!)

9.  Cross the finish line, dry heave, and wonder why in the hell you paid $50 for this.

10.  Find all your awesome friends at the finish who talked you into this shit and remember....exactly

why.

With a finish of 45:50, and 3rd in my Age group (how the hell did that happen) Lilac 10k was a wrap.  With a pace of 7:22, it was uh....slower than half marathon pace, but hey, sometimes life is best experienced by just saying "F*ck it - let's do this" and even though it hurt - I don't regret it. (That may, in fact, bey life motto).

And thankfully, it finally opened my eyes to actually get my shit together for the rest of the season!  The goal posts have been moved a bit for June and July, but I'm FINALLY getting my groove back - thank goodness.  Up next is Keuka Lake Tri - an Olympic race that I haven't done since 2011 - check this out for a laugh!)  Goal?  Legit, to have fun!  The water will be cold, the bike hilly, and the run a blast - and with so many friends there, its definitely gonna be a party!!  LET's GO!