What a surprise: I podiumed!

What a funny way to finish a race!!!!!! I came out 3rd on women for the 10km race (overall, not even age group!). I didn’t even PB. That’s the most hilarious experience. But let me start from the beginning

I arrived 6:30am, did 15 min warm up (dynamic stretching and few minutes jogging) because otherwise my knees won’t be happy. Then I met with my colleagues and lined up for the start. Look. It was not a 100 people race and not all men. It was 10 and 13 km for the 7am start, and then 5km at 7:20am.

My target pace was 7:35 min/mile and the first two miles at that pace felt right because it was a gentle downhill. But after the downhill came the uphill and I started to suffer. My HR climbed to 166 by then and I doubted I could hold to that pace for 4 more miles. So slowly, I slowed down to not feeling my heart to explode.

By mile 3 I felt thirsty and there was no water station for another two miles. I then remember, oh I didn’t take nitrogen which I should have as it makes high effort feel less hard. I also realized I didn’t check where were the water stations so I could plan accordingly. Bummer! What a race preparation fail. I kept pushing, balancing HR with pace, averaging 8 min/mile throughout the rolling hills.

The funny part

Then by 8km, a motorcycle started to follow me from the front. I thought he was checking on me as I looked about to faint or something. I gave him a thumb up telling him I’m okay. But he didn’t leave. He continued to guide me and checking on me. I was confused, checked again who was him. His motor says support staff. I was convinced I am about to be taken to the ambulance by how bad I looked. I wonder if I look too pale, should I tell him that it’s because of the sunscreen?! Anyway, as I entered to the last 200 meter stretch, he started go a bit faster and horning. I thought he finally felt assured that I could finish and leave me alone, but no, he kept looking at me as signaling me to go faster! I gathered all my willpower and went faster. As I entered to the last stretch, there’s two path to the finish line, the left one has many runners (turned out to be 5km runners, I didn’t know), so I thought I should go that way. But the motorcyclist signaled me to go to the empty right lane. I was confused but had no mental energy to reason so I just went that way. 50 meters to the finish line, I saw the finish tape. I thought how nice that the organizers put the tape for all finishers. And just as I was about to cross it, a guy passed me and broke the tape with me.

As we crossed while I felt my heart was coming out, the same guy told me congrats, you came out third. I said WHAT? He said: yes, I am the first one to finish 13km, you came out third on 10km.

Can you imagine my confused face?! Then I found my other colleague who ran 10km and he’s fast so he finished before. I told him what I heard and asked if that’s even possible. He said: it’s possible because when he finished few minutes ago, the second woman finisher just arrived.

Still skeptical, we waited for the ceremony and indeed my name was called and I went to the podium, totally surprised and amused by the whole experience. My finish time was 49:35, the winner was 47 min and change.

My last trophy was 2017, a local 5km race in Virginia, 3rd in my age group. I didn’t PB as planned (let me blame the hill, the altitude heheh) but I got a trophy! 🙂

Our office running group went viral congratulating me, they even want to feature it in the next office wide newsletter, as inspiring woman. I feel honored.

To me, the most memorable part was the motorcycle. For all those 10 min that he followed me, the idea of him guiding the lead runners NEVER came to my mind. I guess the moral of the story is to keep training, keep pushing when it gets hard, and one never knows the surprise ahead of us.