Mermaid 10 Mile Race

I signed up for the Mermaid 10 mile race in early June.  I decided to sign up on International Running Day when prices were cheaper. I figured I should run a race at some point running across the Golden Gate Bridge even though I didn't want to. The 10 mile length was the only length running across the bridge. 

I forgot to write my post initially.  

I was super stressed about driving down then someone mentioned carpooling. I was all for it. Then some others mentioned carpooling. Instead of her picking me up at my house I drove to her house and we left from there. We left a little late. Things took some time. I almost asked to use her bathroom and didn't. Then when we parked I almost didn't make it to the bathroom.  I feel like getting to parking took way longer than I thought. We initially went to one place but nobody was parked there so we parked where the email said to park and some beach parking.  At the bathroom, I realize that I do not have my energize. I think it fell out in her car. We go check. It didn't. I can't believe I do have it. I'm so mad. I really love the energize it gives me especially for a long run or a race.  Also on the way to the bathroom and then after the back of my leg was bleeding. I wiped the blood that dripped down my entire leg but it kept bleeding.  Someone in the carpool had liquid bandaid but that didn't help. 

We had to walk a little less than a mile to get to the start. We were running late.   We get to the start as they are singing the national anthem.  That's pretty late!

I didn't have my apps started to track my run when the starting gun went off.  I didn't have my interval timer set. I didn't have my podcasts on.  I lingered a bit and started without it ready.  Then I was setting things up the first quarter mile at least. So I was running it more of a warmup. Then I was all set and ready to run and it was up hill and narrow.  I did not realize the next mile would be on a narrow trail where you couldn't pass.  Once the narrow trail was done it was time for the Golden Gate Bridge.  I wouldn't pass their either even though you could. I was too scared to go around anyone on the left.  It was so windy. I felt like that was worse for being scare. It was definitely worse for running. I held my visor for most of the race. 

I was surprised how we got from one side to the other. There were stairs and a little thing that was under the bridge and then back up stairs.  We ran barely any at all on the other side. I was passing a little but also decided to quit carrying my tail wind water bottle and I threw it in the recycling. 

I tried that tail wind one other time. I do not know why I hated it this time. When I forgot energize I tried to drink some before the race. Then I hated it every sip during the race. I hated taking the lid off. I think I hated it more since it was extremely shaken up from running and holding it. 

It was foggier on the way back.  I still wouldn't pass. 

I regretted having tail wind in my water bottle in my pocket. I wished it was water.   I got water at all the stops. I specifically read in advance the nutrition they'd offer. Well I never saw it ever so I never got any. Sadly I didn't bring my own. (Tail wind is nutrition so it wasn't like I didn't have any. Also I often would run long runs close to 10 mi without nutrition.)

The last 3 miles or so were nice being net downhill. 

I checked the weather in advance but it was colder than I thought. It felt way colder with the wind. I wore a tank top in shorts. That wasn't bad when running but after it was horrible. I was so cold. Most everyone ran in pants and long sleeve shirts. I saw maybe 1 other person in a tank and a couple in shorts.  Then people had long sleeve shirts and checked more warm clothes in a bag check. I should have done a bag check! I had to wait so long for Yvonne to finish. Her booster shot wiped her out so she decided to walk the 10 mi race. So I had to wait a long time. After the race some people even had big puffy winter coats!

After I got to meet people in a running group I'm part of on facebook. That was nice to finally meet some of them. 

During the race, the 10 mi met up with both the 5k and the 10k people. It was mostly the walkers at this point so it was kind of annoying going around them. 

I had my interval timer set but didn't use most of them. I ran at the pace of the people in front of me since I couldn't pass. I could barely hear it anyway. I definitely couldn't hear the podcasts I had playing. 

1:48:24 was my time. I told people my goal was 1:50. I figured 1:50 would account for the hills but really I wanted 1:45. I wanted 1:40 if it was flat so then 1:45 to push myself on this race. I was so late I didn't even process goal times and what the goal pace for 1:45 would be. 

I wrote 80% of this right away with notes for the rest but then a month later finished it!

I would say so many things went wrong this race. All the things I am always afraid of. It was stressful still it all worked out. 

We carpooled

Back of my leg that bled (from shaving) 

I took many photos while running.

My leg kept bleeding and I'd constantly wipe it.

While on the bridge, the winner of the race was coming over the other side about 2 miles ahead of me!

The steps to go under the bridge

I paid for the professional photos.

Running into the finish

Apparently when I tried to finish strong I look like I'm coming in like an attack dinosaur.

It a race to have the app say "Room to grow" instead of "Good Job." It was supposed to be goal pace repeats and i just started that workout on race day since I was to the start line so late.