RNR USA

My 1st Rock N Roll race of 2012 was scheduled to be the RNR USA in Washington DC.  Somewhere around Christmas - New Years Carissa decided she'd run it with me.  I signed her up and was ready to rock DC.  I tried to talk Judd into joining us seeings as it was so close to home but he wasn't interested....played with the idea a little but decided not to.   Garret, on the other hand, was excited about running his first ING Kid's Rock and was VERY curious as to whether they have Heavy Medals for the Kids' Rock races. 

Fast forward to just a couple of weeks before the sold out race...Carissa's boyfriend was about to deploy for a year and the weekend of the race was her last opportunity to see him.  Obviously mom and the race were tossed out the window for a surprise visit to Daniel.  So, I asked Judd if he'd be interested in taking her place and he agreed.  The last few days before the race I ended up sick...Tuesday thru Thursday were not good and Friday was basically chicken broth and sprite while still feeling nauseous...Saturday's race wasn't going to be all that, but thankfully Judd hadn't trained so it shouldn't be too taxing...or so I thought!

Friday we hit the race expo, picked up both of our packets, did a quick run through, and then headed out to the Kids' Rock.  I had volunteered to help out so spent an hour or so unwrapping medals and putting them on the rack and the finish line.  It started raining, just a misty rain, miserable but not bad.  It was a bit chilly and damp, but I didn't think about it.  We had about an hour before the race so I chilled with Garret and listened to Tracy talk to the kids and encourage a healthy lifestyle then introduce all of the guests, finally it was time for me to take my position in the finisher's area and send Garret to the start area.  I watched as several of the younger groups made their way around the one mile course and crossed the line, while handing out bagels and granola bars to the finishers.  After a bit I saw Garret cross the finish line I snapped a quick picture of him on my iPhone in the Finisher's Area, congratulated him, went back to my post, and kept handing out bagels.  Garret really enjoyed the race experience and I really enjoyed helping out.  

After the race we headed to dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe in DC.  On a positive note, it was right beside Ford's Theather, which was a neat bit of history.  On the downside, it was probably one of the worst experiences we'd had at a Hard Rock...they brought Judd and I the wrong meals (not what we ordered) and the girl that brought them was rude to us, when they finally brought the correct entrees both were overdone, we ordered ice cream (and it was Judd's bday), the server basically just dumped the desserts on the table, didn't mention the birthday and didn't give us spoons...all small things, but all added up and resulting in a disappointing visit.  Afterwards we headed back to the hotel and crashed.  I realized during dinner I was clearing my throat a lot, but didn't think much of it. 

Race morning was chilly and overcast and I woke up a little congested.  A couple of good coughing spells and a tissue in hand, Judd and I headed down to the Metro.  As we were walking towards the station there was a familiar face...David!  It was great to see a RNR race friend.  As he isn't from the area we stuck together and I led them through the metro drill...the station and trains were INSANELY packed with runners.  We couldn't get in the first one that came and forced ourselves into the next.  When we finally got to the station we had to stay on the train with the doors closed while they let the previous train's runners clear the platform and exit the station.  I have NEVER seen so many people in the 'tro in my life...not even in the thick of rush hour.  It was insane.   We finally got out to the starting area and headed over to the VIP tent where we ran into Denise (another RNR friend) and her oldest son (who I'd yet to meet but was also running his first half!).

Before long we found our way to our corral with Judd being his typical self and wise cracking about anything and everything...definitely keeping me entertained and pointing out things about runners and races that I never really noticed but were spot on when I thought about them...we're a strange bunch! ;)

We'd decided to go around 10 - 11 minute miles as Judd had never run more than 5 miles and hasn't even done that for quite some time.  Recently he'd been doing three miles of killer hills wearing a high altitude mask twice a week, so I knew he had some cardio base, I was just worried about him long term. 

For the first two miles I felt off...but I attributed it to lack of training and the previous week's illness, not to mention the fact that normally the first few miles (anywhere between 2 and 5) are rough for me and kept pushing.  Judd stayed a few steps ahead of me and was constantly looking over his shoulder and trying to slow up to match my pace but you could tell he didn't want to slow down.

Just before the three mile mark Judd asked if I was alright.  I told him yes I was just pacing us.  I told him we were currently running sub 9s and he asked what that meant.  I told him it meant we were going less than 9 minutes per mile.  He shrugged it off and said, "How many miles have we done so far?"  When I responded not quite three he was a little taken aback and slowed up a bit...but still didn't match my pace. 

The course was a really nice course with a lot to look at and challenging hills throughout and the course support was really good as with any RNR race, but being from the area I really felt like it could've been better developed to run past more landmarks and historic sites.  I was please after the race when speaking to a group of RNR friends and Tracy, when he shared the same sentiment...if Tracy thinks it too then you can bet the course will improve next year!  (And it was already a good course.)

As we kept going I progressively felt worse and really felt like I was struggling but couldn't put a finger on what was wrong.  Judd also stayed just ahead of me and I really felt like I was reigning in wild horses...I told him several times to leave me but he wouldn't hear of it.  That just made me feel more guilty so I'd try to turn it up a notch and end up feeling worse physically and struggling more. 

Finally we hit a fairly killer hill between miles 6 & 7...it wasn't anything ridiculous, but it did me in.  I had to slow up.  Judd lingered a bit, waiting for me to regain my speed, but my pace was a near crawl for him at almost 11:20 minute miles on the hill.  I asked him to please leave me and run his race and set his time.  He wouldn't, said he felt bad doing so.  I reminded him that I'd run 20 some of these by myself and I was fine with it.  I told him I was not going to do well and asked him to please go after his time then just meet me at the VIP tent after we finished.  He reluntantly went ahead and I watched his back as he looked over his shoulder frequently for about a quarter of a mile, then he was gone in the crowd.  I struggled for the rest of the race and ended up doing run/walk intervals a few times.

I finally crossed the line in 2:25:24.  Judd had crossed in 2:17 and was waiting for me at the VIP tent.  We headed to the engravers and there was an issue with them locating Judd's time.   We went to the information/solutions booth and were sent to the timing tent.  Unfortunately the timing tent was in the secure area so we couldn't get back in.  We went back to the information area and I sent Judd to chill at the VIP as his legs were tightening up quickly (he already had shin splints from gym class before the race).  I tried to get help at the tent and the girl who'd been helping me informed me I didn't need to yell at her.  I apologized and only then did I realize my voice was very scratchy (at best) and my ears were feeling rather clogged (that "under water" feeling) so I could barely hear myself and was therefore projecting a bit too much.  I explained to her that I wasn't feeling well and didn't realize I was yelling and she was fine with that.  She took me over to the timing tent and they found Judd's time right away, problem solved.  I them met up with the boys at the VIP tent and we chatted with a few friends, grabbed a bite to eat, and decided we'd better head back to the metro if we were going to get back to the hotel in time to shower and make check out.  I didn't even take time to look through the pictures Paul had taken and still hadn't seen what he'd gotten of Garret the night before.  Just as we were about to leave Kevin came walking back and told me that the metro was shut down because of the crowds...apparently the police were not letting anyone else in.  We opted to take the next VIP shuttle back to the base hotel as it was only two blocks from ours and we could walk that easily.  The only problem was that shuttle was not going to get us to the hotel until after our late checkout.  I called the hotel and explained the situation and they had no issue with it, so when the shuttle rolled we were on it.  As the shuttle went through town I realized we were less than a block from our hotel at one stop sign and asked the driver if we could hop off there (we were in the first and third rows), he stopped and we grabbed the boys and off we went.  When we got back to the room as the boys were showering I asked Paul where the camera bag was...long story short...gone.  Nearest we can figure he left it on the shuttle, though even that isn't 100% certain.  I KNOW he had it at the VIP tent before heading to the shuttle...beyond that I did not see it.  It did not turn up on the shuttle or get turned in as found, so I never did get to see any pictures from the weekend other than the few off of my phone and the ones from the race photographers (which were surprisingly disappointing - Marathonfoto had shot this race instead of Brightroom who typically does RNR events and I did see a difference).    But at least I did have some pictures of Garret's first Kids' Rock and Judd's first 1/2!

All in all, great race, good course, great people...and great experience running with Judd.  As for my struggles on the course...within four hours of finishing I'd COMPLETELY lost my voice and developed a reflex cough (nothing productive, just a reflex from the lungs stretching when breathing).  By Sunday morning I was struggling to get air my lungs were so tight.  Knowing I had a race the following weekend in Delaware, I headed to the urgent care, suspecting bronchitis and hoping to prevent pneumonia.  Two breathing treatments and a chest xray later, bronchitis was confirmed and I was sent on my way with three prescriptions and Dr's ok to do the DE race IF I felt up to it and IF I walked if needed.

Monday was no better than Sunday. Tuesday I saw a slight improvement.  Wednesday another improvement and I started feeling confident I could do DE.  Thursday was nearly as bad as Sunday had been.  Friday I was better again, and Saturday I was good enough to pull the trigger but still knowing I'd need to take it easy...the lungs were still pretty tight. 

Stay tuned for the DE update....