My second run of 2019 took place at Run Local’s 408K Race to the Row. Running an 8K from San Jose to Santa Clara isn’t that far, but it was long enough for me to learn how different types of nutrition affect my body.
The morning of the race, I woke up to the sound of rain hitting my window. I’ve always found that sound soothing, but the thought of running in the rain isn’t really my ideal weather for an enjoyable run. It rained all week, so it wasn’t a surprise that it was raining the morning of the race. Plus, the cool air helped to keep my body temp down—but not at first.
Since the Resolution Run, I focused on strengthening my legs and stretching more and I was running every day. I even started attending a strength-training class a few times a week with a yoga class on my off days. It was easy for me to get used to the treadmill program runs. The thing about using treadmill programs is that I don’t run for very long but the machine does alter the elevation for me. My regular program choice is a high-intensity interval run that breaks each into 1-3 minutes at a time with low-intensity intervals between each set. This high-to-low-intensity set goes for about 30-32 minutes each time. I’m starting to suspect that this is causing a disruption in my cadence when I’m not running on the treadmill.
On race day, I got out of bed, did my morning stretches, and checked the weather. I would typically eat a Cliff bar after my stretches as a pre-run breakfast, but I had forgotten to go shopping that week and all I had was a package of Honey Stinger Energy Chews.
I chewed through my gummy breakfast and checked the weather hoping the rain would subside long enough to let me run without getting wet like the Santa Run. According to Google, the rain was scheduled to stop from 7:00AM to 9:00AM, and for once the damn weather forecast was right. The rain may have let up, but the chill was still in the air, and then I thought it was a good idea to wear sweatpants on the run, which I wouldn’t normally do. I felt great about my apparel choice on my way to the race, but then I got into my corral and felt a little stuffy.
Walking up to races and finding my corral was still new to me that year, and I was still pretty far back in the field. I arrived at the race and started getting loose with arm shakes and leg stretches and body twists. It wasn’t long before the National Anthem quieted the crowd and the nerves really started. Then, the sounds of a jet above became noticeable between lines in the song. In epic timing, a silvery American Airlines jet was flying across the sky with the American Flag on its tailwinds. I just wish I had gotten a better picture of the plane, but some images in life can’t be captured with a phone, not yet at least.
The race began and I felt good. We started at the SAP Pavilion, ran down The Alameda, then past the beautiful homes in Shasta-Hanchett Park, Lincoln High School, the Municipal Rose Garden, and then we crossed Bascom before making our way around the Westfield Valley Fair mall for the Mariachi Mile. I’m sure here are plenty of ways to see the different neighborhoods of San Jose, but running through the city in the middle of the road certainly gives you a better appreciation.
Mariachi Mile had six mariachi bands playing music and cheering us on. As a Mexican American, I grew up listening to Mariachi music, so this was a special motivator. Once I heard the music, I slowed my stride, paused my music, and I flashed back to my childhood, visualizing my grandparents dancing with each other. I closed my eyes for a brief moment, and I could hear my grandpa singing again. For that moment, the first part of the final mile, I was happy and no longer tired. I smiled and even tried to dance a little, trying not to miss a step, but it was enough to throw out of rhythm.
Suddenly, with the finish line in sight, I got tired. My legs were wobbly. My stomach became upset, and I felt the energy gummies that I ate for breakfast start to make their way back up. I felt the warm surge through my body, so I slowed down, focused on my breathing, and I kept moving my legs and swinging my arms. I was almost at the finish line when I wanted to stop, but I kept going. That push was the hardest quarter-mile push I had done up to that point.
I was exhausted when I crossed the finish line. My fingers were tingling, my legs were jello, and I felt like vomiting when the finish-line camera man snapped a few shots of me. Then the sounds of the mariachi and seeing the Mexican dancers in all their beauty began to soothe my stomach. I collected my metal, grabbed a bottle of water from one of the nice volunteers, and I walked around to check out the sponsor tents.
Despite my troubles during the race, I had a great time. I ran an 8K in 00:45:19 and I ran the Race to the Row for the first time.
In the end, I learned some important lessons to work on before the San Jose Shamrock Run on St. Patrick’s Day.
- First, I learned that the pre-race meal is really important. I’m definitely not doing the gummy breakfast again.
- Second, I shouldn’t get too excited during the race because it will pull me out of rhythm. I have to stay focused.
- And, third, I have to do longer runs on the treadmill with a consistent speed rather than just doing the treadmill programs with fluctuating speeds.
See you there!
