Zenaida Arroyo

Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  I hope you all had a great weekend.  Seriously, the days are going by so fast and June will be here soon.

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  What was the worst thing that happened to you at a race?  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

So many races and over time many of them sort of blend in together.  Thank goodness for my race reviews so I can go back and remember a few things about them.  For the most part each race has gone well.  Some were either too hilly, rainy, cold, etc.  These are things out of my control and not much I can do about it.

One of the whe worst thing that has happened to me was at the Omaha Half Marathon.  What happened you asked?  I fell.  That was the first time I’ve fallen during a race/run.  I remember feeling great and enjoying the race.  At this point we were running in the park.  It was shaded but for like a split second the sun appeared and blinded me.  I did not see the girl in front of me.  I must have bumped into her, and then tripped and fell.  It felt like I was in a slow motion movie.  I remember every single move I made before landing on the floor.  I was shocked and laid there for a few seconds.  The runners that saw me asked if I was OK.  I got up to scan the damage.  No bleeding on my knees but they were scraped a little.  There was blood on my left hand and a small scrape on my right hand.  I was OK and was glad that it was not worse. 

Now that I think about it, runners around me were concerned about ME but I don’t remember apologizing or being concerned about the girl that I bumped into.  I am assuming she also fell.  Or maybe she didn’t?  I don’t even remember.  

Years later I can laugh about it.  Now it is funny but at that time when it happened it wasn’t.  I was embarrassed.  Oh well.

I know weather is out of my control but is another factor into what makes a great or bad race experience.  I will always remember the RnR Nashville.  I did this race in 2013.  Not only was the course hilly but it rained the entire time.  It was raining while waiting in the hotel lobby for the shuttle bus and didn’t want to run anymore.  I was miserable throughout the race and just wanted to finish.  When I was done and went back to the hotel to shower, I had chafed in so many places and was in so much pain.  Surprisingly I did better than I expected and finished in 2:30:14.  I checked my race recap and I posted that I finished in 2:29:39.  Hmm, regardless still a great time.  🙂

Another race I vividly remember is the Walt Disney Wine and Dine Half Marathon that I did in 2014.  The race started late because of the weather (there was a storm).  It was a night race anyway so now it started even later.  I was cold during this race.  It was dark and I just couldn’t make myself enjoy the race.  I finished with my worst half marathon time of 3:18:01.  Ha, and I hope it stays that way.  And that was my last Disney race for that year.  I ran 8 that year.  Just writing that makes me cringe thinking of how much money I spent.  

Welcome to another edition of Tuesday Topics!  Apologies for posting so late.  I have been behind on reading blog posts and needed extra time to catch up.  I like to read as many blog posts as I can and respond to every comment.

This week’s Tuesday Topic:  BRAG!  Tell us about your running PRs!  You can write about this topic or feel free to post any running related blog post.  Remember to link up with Kim and Zenaida!  Visit at least two of the other linked posts – the more the merrier!  Remember to come back for later linkers!

This year was supposed to be THE year for me.  My goal was to PR in various race distances along with other non running goals.

The year did not start off too good.  I got a cold and was not feeling well.  Then I fell.  Due to said fall I was afraid to run outside.  Instead I ran on the treadmill.  I didn’t do any races either.  Actually the only race I did was the Publix Atlanta Half Marathon at the beginning of March.  Yep, this was right before everyone’s world changed because of Covid-19.

All of my PRs are OLD.  I mean years old.  Old enough that I am embarrassed to even write about them here.  But I will.  

Anyway, let’s reminisce a little.  The last time I PRed was in May 2017 for a 5 miler race.  It was an “easy” PR because it was my first race of that distance.  

This year I was looking forward to the Shamrock Shuffle 8k and the 4 on the 4th of July races.  They’re two of my favorite races.  My PRs are 48:38 (8k in 2014) and 39:39 (4 miles in 2014).  

My 5k PR is 29:48 from 2011 and my 10k PR is 1:04 from 2010.  That is a sign that I need to do better next year, right?

For years I’ve been wanting to get a sub 2 half marathon.  I am not even close.  My PR is 2:17 from 2013 at the ING Hartford Half Marathon.  I came close in 2015 when I ran the Covered Bridges Half Marathon.  My finish time was 2:19:51.  I was pleased with how I did because the course was hilly and I walked a few times.

The last marathon I ran in 2016 is my marathon PR (5:12:59).  I remember I was aiming for a sub 5 finish time and was doing really good till about mile 11.  My left hip was hurting and I really wanted to quit.  I didn’t.  I told myself I was almost halfway done.  Then I had 10 miles to go.  Then single digits.  Then a few more miles.  Now wasn’t the time to quit.  I was pleased with how I did and was happy to have bettered my time by 40 minutes from my first Chicago Marathon in 2006.  

I entered the lottery for both the NYC Marathon and the MCM but was not picked for any of them.  Could be a sign to instead focus on the other distances.  

The plan now is to run and train for next year.  Next year is when I will get some new and shiny PRs!!