Race Recap: NYRR Mini 10K

I'm back from NYC!!! It was quite the weekend with 10+ hours spent on a bus with Becky, 6.2 miles run in Central Park, 6+ Cab Rides around NYC, multiple meals out and too many drinks to count. I'm definitely exhausted.  But I did walk away with a new PR in the 10K!  Another 3 second PR but I PR'd nonetheless.  I've only run one 10K before and I think this could be my distance, had I trained.  Yep, this race was the furthest I've run since that little Marathon I ran on April 18th.  Oops.  It was a great race though and I'm glad I came to NYC to run this race with lots of other awesome bloggers...

Ali, Emily, Becky, Tina & Theodora!

 But let's rewind, shall we?  The weekend started in South Station at my favorite place, Cheeseboy. The tag-line for Cheeseboy is "the best things in life are cheese," and I couldn't agree more.  I'm pretty much obsessed with cheese so I was excited we could start the weekend on the right foot : ) From there we took the Bolt Bus down to NYC to stay with Theodora.

We were greeted with wine, cupcakes, Theodora, Ashley and Bailey before heading to Serafina at the Time Hotel for dinner with Ali, Emily and the Rocketship.

I got my pre-race staple: Lobster Ravioli and it was almost as good as my local Italian restaurant.  Yum!!! Becky and I also shared a salad.  We had a blast together with gallons of water and pounds of parm cheese : ) Then we headed back to Theodora's for a restful night of sleep.

Here we are, pretending we are ready to run so early in the AM.

Race morning of the NYRR New York Mini 10K,  my stomach was a mess and I was nervous as hell.  I was not a good time to hang out with before the gun went off but once the race started, I calmed down. My goal was to start slow and progressively get faster.  But we all know that's not how I run.  (I actually did run this way at the National Half- my first mile was 8:45 and my last was 7:43, someday I will negative spilt again. Someday.)
This is how I feel about this race.  It was H-O-T. I probably needed some fuel before the race (I could barely eat) and gatorade during. I had some horrible thoughts during the race.  I thought about quitting, but I tried to dig deep and in the end I was able to sneak out a 3 second PR. 51:44 (8:20 pace)

Liz

F29

1157

MA

USA

819

819

244

0:51:44

0:25:04

08:20

 I know I didn't train for this race, but I know I should be able to run faster and I hope I do at the BAA 10K in two weeks! And here are my paces...

 The first mile I was actually right next to Kelly... I thought about saying hi but since we've never met in person I didn't want to seem like a creeper. So hi Kelly!!! I also kept Ali in my sights for the first 3 miles, but then I lost her...I came through the 5K at 25:04 and felt pretty good until I turned the corner and ran up a hill.  I looked down at my watch at one point and I was close to a 9:30 so I knew I was just trying to hold on.  Once I got down to the last mile, I knew it was almost over. So I did whatever I could to will myself to the finish.  The race counts down... 800 meters to go (the distance I ran in college), then 400 meters to go (my favorite distance) and 200 meters to go.  I was a sprinter but I barely had a sprint left in me.

And here is a picture of the elevation.  I thought for sure Mile 4 was going to show some crazy elevation.  But it didn't so I'm not sure why I was struggling so much at that mile, but I was.

I forgot to mention one thing about this race.  I threw up at the end.  Yep. I did.  I had nothing in me besides water but I exerted myself so much I got sick and I can tell you it's pretty much 100% because of the heat.  Lizzy + humidity= miserable. But don't worry, I'm queen of the puke and rally : ) TMI? Sorry.

I definitely learned some stuff in this race.  

• I learned that I should run more than 4.5 miles before running a 6.2 mile race.  
• I learned that 96% humidity and I don't get along.  
• I learned that I need Gatorade when it's that hot out.  
• But most of all, I learned that running races with friends is the best way to run them : )

And I learned that I will always, always run for CHEESE.

Shout out to Stephanie, who made me this awesome shirt : )

 After the race, we headed to a Blogger Brunch organized by Christy at Whym. I wasn't sure what I was craving so I ordered the special- Smoked Salmon on a Pretzel Bread with Sweet Potato Fries and a Fellini (Pear Puree and Champagne). And I stole some of Becky's Pancakes.  Oh, and we got a side of Bacon.  Besides cheese, I will always always run for bacon.

After the race, Becky and I headed back to Theodora's for some much needed relaxation before a night out on the town.  Stay tuned for my restaurant recap on Ninja!

I had so much fun at the race with my blog friends : )  And I'm so happy I went to NYC : ) Can't wait to go back!

Have you run an NYRR race?  THEY are so well run!  Do you like the 10K distance?