Monday, May 18, 2020

Best Race? Worst race? Is there such a thing?


I've done a lot of races in my time.

In fact, I don't even know the exact count. I have kept almost all of my race bibs (minus a few strays from the early years before I considered myself a "real" runner, that is), but please don't ask me to count them.

I have had some great races, and I have definitely had some nasty ones.  

If I were to name my best race experience, though, it would be tough. There are too many factors (the weather, the terrain, the crowds, the training that got me there, etc.) to name the absolute best one that I've experienced. The 2013 Quad Cities Marathon, though, would definitely be a contender.

What made that race, in that particular year, so special? It was my first marathon (recap), that's what.

At the time, I had already done many races, of various distances. The half marathon had become (and still is) my favorite distance. Although the thought of doing a full marathon was intimidating, it was something that I knew I'd regret not trying. 

I spent most of that summer training, via a Hal Higdon intermediate plan. I've never been a high-mileage runner, and the training plan I used had me doing an optional short run on Monday, a 4-mile run on Tuesday, a 6-mile run on Thursday, and my long run on Saturday. There was some strength-training, but I didn't do much speedwork (other than occasional hill sprints up a grassy hill near the country club golf course).

September 22nd arrived and I was ready. Having never done a marathon before, I had nothing to compare it to, but I knew to keep an open mind. I wanted to enjoy the experience and not be stressed about my pace or mile splits or finish time. I'd heard so many stories of first-time marathoners being nervous and preoccupied with the unknowns...and I didn't want that for me. I wanted this to be an experience to look back on with fondness and gratitude.

there's the finish line...

So, what made this race so memorable and (almost) picture perfect?

The weather. Race day blessed me with near-perfect weather. There was sunshine, with cool temps at the race start. It got warmer as the morning wore on, but was never uncomfortable. 

Unique race course. The Quad Cities are a cluster of four cities on the Mississippi River...Davenport and Bettendorf (both in southeastern Iowa) and Moline and East Moline (in northwest Illinois). Also included in this cluster is Rock Island, a small military arsenal on a small island (in the bay of the river). The race course goes through each of these cities (as well as Rock Island), encompassing several trips across the bridges connecting all of them. 

My own cheer squad. The hubby and youngest daughter were there, along the course. Unknown to me, one of my cousins (and her family) had schemed with my husband to surprise me on the race course, so I got to see them a couple of times, as well, as I was running. 


A surprise personal escort in the final mile. As I was walking through the mile-25 water stand, a gentleman ran past me and said "Hey, you can't stop now! You're almost done!" I assured him I was fine, albeit a bit tired...but he said to join him, and that he'd run me in. As we chatted, he told me he'd run every QC Marathon, so this was his 16th time running this course. When I told him it was my first-ever 26.2, he immediately high-5'd me and shouted the news to the crowd. We kept chatting, and he continued rallying the crowd (several times) on my behalf.  

approaching the finish line with Dean

I avoided The Wall. I had heard of the proverbial "wall." For many, it hits them around the 20-mile mark (but can probably happen at any time). Their fuel has run out, as has their energy. Their legs are shot. Many feel they absolutely cannot go a step further. Thankfully, I was not a victim. I was able to manage my fuel and hydration, and did take a few walk breaks near the end, so I never had any of those thoughts/feelings of quitting.

A monumental finish line. Not only did I have Dean escorting me, but the hubby, daughter, my cousin (and family) all were there, right before the finish line. Also, immediately after crossing the finish line, Dean grabbed another guy and introduced me to him...who was none other than Mr. Joe Moreno, the race director. Mr. Moreno shook my hand and thanked me. He told me he was honored that I'd chosen the QC Marathon for my first marathon. Somehow, I got through all of those moments without crying (I think I may have been dehydrated LOL). 


So, yeah. I truly was blessed with a fabulous first marathon. I have since gone back and ran the QC Half Marathon and been on two different marathon relay teams. 

It would be a bit remiss, though to not give a mention of one of my worst race experiences. Let me set the scene... 

It was July 9, 2016, a hot and humid evening. I was with my friends, Barb and Chuck. Barb and I had run an 8K trail race earlier that morning. I'd noticed something feeling off with my hamstring/piriformis region (an area I'd had issues with before), but thought things would feel better by evening.

We were getting ready to run the Midnight Madness 15K (recap)...which included a 5K at 7:30 p.m., followed by a 10K at 8:30 p.m. We'd  made it through the 5K, and I was feeling miserable. I'd tried warming up before the race, and I desperately did a lot of frantic stretching in those 30 minutes before the 10K would start. Things were NOT feeling good. Again, I was hopeful that the muscles would loosen up once I started running and all would be fine and dandy.

Long story short, within the first 1/2 mile of the 10K, I knew it wasn't meant to be. In all actuality, I'd known that before the start of the 5K, but had foolishly ignored that gut instinct. Also, I had a big race coming up, a 12-hour ultra, a week later...and that race was more important to me than the 10K I had no business even starting with compromised body parts. 

sitting curbside, DNF'd!

Luckily, the first mile of the 10K looped out and back, so that gave me a perfect "out." Once I made the decision to pull over and surrender my timing chip, it felt like a huge weight had been lifted. I didn't feel any sadness, nor any regret, because I knew I'd done the right thing by DNF'ing. Too bad I hadn't made that decision earlier in the evening. Alas, that's my one and only DNF. Like a first-ever marathon, you only get one first-ever DNF...if it comes with a lesson, it's not a bad thing.

If you were asked to name your best race ever, would you be able to pick just one? Could you name a worst race? Have your ever taken a DNF?

 I'm linking this with Kim and Zenaida for the Tuesday Topics Link-Up

I'm also linking with Debbie,  RachelDeborahLisaSandra and Jenn for the Runners' Roundup


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30 comments:

  1. There isn't enough space on the internet for me to talk about the good races! My "worst" race was my first half, exactly one year ago today. I'd been looking forward to the race for 6 months and had built up such high expectations. It was the first really hot day of the year but I pursued a time goal anyway, right up to mile 5 where I got dizzy and had to run/walk the rest of the way. The biggest problem was that I'd never had a bad race before and didn't know how to cope. Now I know that bad races happen and it's no big deal. And hey, it's really hard to see any race as a "bad" race right now.

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    1. Totally agree!! I tend to build up my expectations and if things go amiss, it can be crushing. That said, I'd rather go into a race with high hopes (that's the glass-half-full thing in me) rather than have low expectations. It's a fine line, though...going with what's "safe" vs. risking disappointment.

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  2. I had one DNF, a 10k, and it was my own damn fault for going out too fast. I let my ego run and not my brain...I had no business going that fast. Lesson learned.

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    1. We've all made that mistake. That first mile is so tough...

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  3. Your QC Marathon sounds like a fairy-tale race!
    I like so many things about your story - the stranger Dean being your escort and support runner, your cousin and family turning up, that photo with your youngest daughter running with you... Just amazing.
    Sometimes the best decision is to DNF. I once fainted just before the finishing line... a combination of too hot and too much effort. I should have stopped when I felt queasy. Ah, live and learn.

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    1. Thankfully, I have never fainted...but I have felt light-headed a few times. Yes, the QC Marathon was a fairy tale of a race. I'm quite grateful for how that day played out. We don't get that kind of experience at every race (at least I don't LOL).

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  4. That sounds like you had the most amazing first marathon! Congrats!

    I have rarely been blessed with good weather for races, and wouldn't you know one time that I was, it ended up being my worst race due to pretty severe IT problems. God laughs, right?

    Still, I'd be hard pressed to pick my best race. Maybe my first half. Maybe my 18 mile race. Neither because of the finish time or the weather (because both were bad at both races!), but just because they were the first & I finished both with a smile on my face. :)

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    1. It is really hard to pick a "best" race. This marathon stands out because it was such a significant milestone, but there have been numerous others that were were pretty amazing (for different reasons).

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  5. I got goosebumps reading about the man who ran you in at the QC marathon. What a great story! I think maybe my best race was the Eugene Marathon. It was an emotional race for me. My mom had recently passed away and it was my first race back after being really sick. The race was awesome. Eugene is such a running-oriented town.

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    1. That would make for an emotional race <3 Honestly, I do believe in fate...and I don't think Dean showing up when he did (and all the magic he performed in that final mile) was a coincidence.

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  6. My best?? That would be hard. Possibly my first, well because it got me hooked on the distance. Possibly my one and only marathon because I did it!!!

    Worst? There were many because of COLD RAIN. LG half, Brooklyn Half, Love half, a FLA half, CA half - could not enjoy the experience and couldn't wait to get warm and dry.

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    1. HA ha...I can relate to the weather being a factor in bad experiences! Although bad weather conditions make for a miserable (at the time) experience, it is pretty neat to look back and be grateful for having had the grit to battle through it.

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  7. It is fun to think back on all of the races we have done. I am not sure which was my favorite. I would probably go with one of the Ragnar races as they really take me out of my comfort zone and I love the team aspect of them. I really hope they are able to come back one day

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    1. Awh....do you know how badly I want to do a Ragnar???? It would be awesome to have a blogger Ragnar team someday.

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  8. That's amazing that you had such a great experience for your first marathon! And I love the personal escort for the final mile :)

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    1. Seriously, how lucky was I that He chose me to escort into the finish? After I'd finished, the hubby was like "who was that guy?" LOL

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  10. Sounds like a great first marathon. I had an amazing first marathon experience too. Too bad they're not all perfect, but I guess that helps us appreciate the good ones. :-)

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    1. So true! Not just marathons, but any race (or run, for that matter). I think we need a few "bad" ones, now and then, to really appreciate the "good" ones.

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  11. That sounds like a great experience for your first marathon, especially with a personal escort to the finish line and getting to meet the RD! I think my first marathon was probably my favorite too. My worst was probably the Baltimore full in 2013. It was humid, hilly, and i went out too fast. I learned alot of lessons from that race!

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    1. Even the bad races (usually) come with valuable lessons, so everything balances out in the end ;-)

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  12. I would definitely pick my marathon where I first qualified for Boston as a best first race. I have never taken a DNF although there have definitely been times I have wanted to.

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    1. Oh I have had some races (and runs LOL) that should have been DNF's, too.

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  13. Awwww! I LOVE that story of the man running you in. Those have been some of my favorite race experiences -- running a stranger in to the finish! I so wish my first marathon had been better... I think that's why I keep doing them. To make up for a bad first experience!

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    1. Well, my recent marathons (in the past few years) have not gone as planned. So much of that was out of my control (weather!), but still. I am grateful my body can go the distance, especially in ugly conditions.

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  14. So many races so many bests and worsts! My first marathon in Honolulu was awesome. Not perfect but a great experience overall. I've had some bad ones too, but I think my most recent marathon in Mesa was the worst. I felt so bad the last few miles I was afraid I wouldn't finish.

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    1. Thankfully, I've never had the fear of not finishing, but there certainly have been some races where that finish line seems to get further and further away the more I'm struggling LOL

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  15. In years of racing and running, there are so many bests and worsts. I have a few races that are my favorites, and a few that have been truly incredible. There are a few that I never want to run again, because they were so bad in those minutes and hours, but I regret nothing.

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    1. I agree. I don't regret any of my races, but there are several that warrant a do-over (but I'm not going back to them).

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  16. I love the story of your first marathon! I have heard of that race and know friends that have run it. I have plenty of DNF. One I remember vividly because it was raining and I was so cold. I got in the back of the ambulance to warm up before I walked back to the finish line. I did not finish and did not regret it.

    Thank you for linking up with us!

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