10K race report!!!

Yesterday I ran the Portland, Oregon "Bridge to Bridge ... to Brews!" 10K race!  As a little back ground ... one year ago I ran my very first 5K race with a friend of mine.  During that race, she pointed out the bridge that she ran over during the Bridge to Bridge race she just did.  I was awestruck!  I thought there would never come a day that I would be able to run over that huge bridge!  I spent this past year running my little heart out ... I ran six 5Ks, one 8K, and four 10K races.  And yesterday I actually ran the Bridge to Bridge and I ran over that huge bridge I never thought I'd be able to!  I ran it all by myself and I ran the whole way without stopping ... I finished in 1:07, which was a tie for my best 10K time ever ... and that was GREAT seeing how my best time ever was a totally flat course.  This course yesterday went up and over 2 bridges, one of which is big and gnarly!  It was funny because the big bridge came first and I ran up and over that NO PROBLEMS at all!  I reached the 3 mile marker where they had an aid station and I was laughing out loud because I was so pumped up and had all this energy left to finish the race and here I was at mile 3 still going STRONG!  A year ago I about died when I finished my first 5K race!   Anyway, it was a great day full of proud moments for me!  My only problem I had was after there was no water to be found.  They had a beer garden type of thing but no thank you!  Then they were handing out Vitamin Water which I've never had before but I drank it anyway because I was so thirsty.  They were also handing out meals to the finishers which consisted of bratworst dogs, saurkraut, and potato salad.  No thanks!  So we tried to find a place to eat and I literally could NOT eat anything.  My stomach was having fits and then I started feeling AWFUL.  My stomach hurt bad and it was radiating all the way up into my chest. This feeling lasted for about 4 hours before it finally subsided.  I actually managed to get a bunch of water down during the day before this happened so I don't think I was dehydrated.  So, what caused that feeling in my stomach?  I don't know.  The only thing I ate was a piece of toast with peanut butter before my race.  Then after that I couldn't eat so I didn't eat anything until last night when I finally got a Clif bar to go down.  I don't know what my problem was but my stomach is still sensitive today.  Ouch! All in all it was a great day and I cannot wait to run that race again!  I have a half marathon I'm working towards in June but I'm determined to find some other running event to do between now and then! Deanna  :)

Congratulations!  I love those bridges.  It just sort of motivates you when your running up and down those big bridges with all the water below you.  I wonder if the Vitamin Water had more sugar content than you were use to...   Just a suggestion, try and find an 8-10 miler in May to get yourself ready for the half marathon.  Stay strong, you're doing great! Rob

I wondered about the Vitamin Water too but I don't normally dump or have problems with anything.  Who knows!  I felt awful though!  I've been doing long runs by myself on the weekend so I should be ready.  We don't really have many organized events around here that are longer than 10K unless it's a half marathon.  I'm determined to get it done though! --Deanna  :)

Congrads on a great race. What a rush to get to 3 mi and feel that good. Sounds like you are well on your way to that half in June! Thanks for sharing that recap and your experince.  I actually ate a blueberry bagel after my last 10K, a first but I was pegging empty.  I ate that and a banana and a bottle water, then went and delivered brunswick stew all afternoon and evening.  (the water with the bagel is probably the only reason I got it down without much problem; slider food; a usual no-no.) The PB toast sounds like a good pre-race breakfast.  I'm not sure about the problems afterward unless it was the vitamin water, but I've tried a couple of different vitamin waters and they didn't bother me. I just don't use them because it seems like an excess of calories over regular water.  I would have drank it if that all they had besides beer too. Go Dee!!!

Wow - nice job on the race - great pace.  Have you tried the toast and pb before a race before?  Maybe the pb was too heavy??  It could have been the vitamin water.  Or it could be as simple as an off day.  I hope you are feeling better today.

that is awesome! so it did not snow then?!?  

Deanna, Depsite your stomach problems, sounds like you had a great race.  I am so happy for you.   I will do my first 10K in a couple of weeks. Kim

Nice Job Deanna!  How fun.  I love those experiences.  You'll have many more to come!  Linn

Way to go Deanna.  Keep at it.  You will be finishing that half before you know it.

Congratulations Deanna!  I love stories like yours that remind us how far we've come.  You provide inspiration for those who are just starting to unleash their inner athlete.  Cassie