Tufts 10K for Women Race - October 12, 2009
I watched the Boston Marathon in April, as I normally do, and revelled at how amazing the runners are. It motivated me to push my running career beyond a few miles on the treadmill each week and the occasional 5K, and get serious. Next stop: my very first 10K. So I drew up a training plan and registered for the Tufts 10K for Women. After 4 months of training my butt off the day was finally here!
A few words about pre-race:
I got to the Common at 10AM thinking I'd have 2 hours to wait in line to get my bib, walk around, check my bag, and stretch. When I arrived there was practically no one there so I was able to leisurely do all of those things. I checked out the vendors, snapped some pictures, and enjoyed the energy. After meeting Kathleen and Meghan I was starting to get pumped. We chatted, got water, and stretched. At 11:30ish we decided to hit the port a potties one last time. There was a row of about 40 of them but at that point I swear the lines were 400 people deep. We waited the 25 minutes anyways even though seeding has begun. I knew I was going to go to the very back to start so I wasn't stressed. Finally it was our turn and then we headed to Beacon Street.
The race:
Kathleen and I queued up towards the back and I was surprised the gun hadn't gone off (it was 12:10 or so). Finally it did but there were SO MANY PEOPLE (6,000!) that we literally walked 5 minutes before getting to the starting line. Right after I was able to start jogging and did until the turn at Charles Street. A lot of people were slow and walking so I had to be very fast in navigating.
The course wove left and up onto the Longfellow Bridge, hurrah! What a nice view and a Red Line train passed by at that moment. Still, I was going pretty slow because of the size of the group on the bridge. At the end we did a loop under the bridge and got on Memorial Drive to mark Mile 1. Just then, my iPod died. CRAP. Oh well, I thought, and kept running. Memorial Drive was a straight 2 mile stretch down, with a quick turn, and then a mile back down which ended in a hairpin turn at Mile 4. Somewhere in between Mile 2-3 I had the sense to take my iPod off my armband and hold it. The jiggling sometimes causes it to die. It was fine after that for the rest of the race. Also during that time I somehow took off my top layer shirt (the day began at 43 degrees, did I mention that?) tied it around my waist without stopping.
On the last bit of Memorial Drive after hitting Mile 4 we were facing the Mass Ave./Harvard Bridge and the sight was completely amazing. A wall of women runners from beginning to end on the bridge. It was one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen.
As I took the left on to the Harvard Bridge Paramore's "Looking Up" came on my iPod and I was instantly overcome. "Honestly can you believe we crossed the world while it's asleep? I'd never trade it because I've always wanted this. It's not a dream anymore, it's worth fighting for." I teared up, I couldn't breathe. Here I was, accomplishing one of the hugest goals I have ever had in my life, crossing the bridge with a full sunny panoramic view of Boston. I was totally overwhelmed. This moment was all mine.
At the end of the bridge (about Mile 4.5) I was definitely tired. My knees hurt from the pavement, my quads were burning, I was wondering where the 5th milemarker was. As I took the left on to Commonwealth Ave., and finally hit Mile 5, there was a water stop with all guys in tuxes and suits. It was awesome! And boosted my morale, lol. 1.2 miles to go I told myself.
I took the final right on Arlington Street and then left on Boylston Street. I hit the final stretch and Mile 6. I could see the clock. I felt like I was floating. I took off and crossed the final line and pumped my fist in the air. I DID IT!
Just then, as I was walking from the finish line, I see John breathless with a huge sign that says "RUN KIM."
WHAT?!? He didn't have Columbus Day off, works in Waltham, wasn't supposed to be there at all, and didn't tell me he was coming. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! I said and then burst into tears. We hugged and he told me he called my name so loud at the final stretch and all of the people around him did too and I didn't hear him over my iPod. I felt like such a jerk but he was fine. I told him I did so good and the race was amazing. He had to jet back to work so we said goodbye. I walked around, got water, got my bag, and met back up with the girls.
Post-race:
Overall it was awesome. I'm so proud of myself. My only gripe about the whole thing was the volume of runners. Even though all the streets were closed off it was very difficult to navigate through all of the people running. There was no real stretch where I had a straight space to run in front of me. I bobbed and weaved a lot (maybe also why my knees hurt now).
The best thing about this race was that I felt so calm. I have to admit, normally I am an anxious wreck before a race. But all of that was gone. I trained. I knew how much work I put in. I was ready. I was just so ready. And that, in itself, was the most amazing part.
Results:
Place Divpl Tot Div Guntime Nettime Pace Name Bib # Hometown ===== ===== ==== ===== ======= ======= ===== ================================================= 4606 1215/1473 F2029 1:15:55 1:11:03 11:27 Kim Keough 2742 Somerville MA Me, post-race:
Full photo gallery here!
A few words about pre-race:
I got to the Common at 10AM thinking I'd have 2 hours to wait in line to get my bib, walk around, check my bag, and stretch. When I arrived there was practically no one there so I was able to leisurely do all of those things. I checked out the vendors, snapped some pictures, and enjoyed the energy. After meeting Kathleen and Meghan I was starting to get pumped. We chatted, got water, and stretched. At 11:30ish we decided to hit the port a potties one last time. There was a row of about 40 of them but at that point I swear the lines were 400 people deep. We waited the 25 minutes anyways even though seeding has begun. I knew I was going to go to the very back to start so I wasn't stressed. Finally it was our turn and then we headed to Beacon Street.
The race:
Kathleen and I queued up towards the back and I was surprised the gun hadn't gone off (it was 12:10 or so). Finally it did but there were SO MANY PEOPLE (6,000!) that we literally walked 5 minutes before getting to the starting line. Right after I was able to start jogging and did until the turn at Charles Street. A lot of people were slow and walking so I had to be very fast in navigating.
The course wove left and up onto the Longfellow Bridge, hurrah! What a nice view and a Red Line train passed by at that moment. Still, I was going pretty slow because of the size of the group on the bridge. At the end we did a loop under the bridge and got on Memorial Drive to mark Mile 1. Just then, my iPod died. CRAP. Oh well, I thought, and kept running. Memorial Drive was a straight 2 mile stretch down, with a quick turn, and then a mile back down which ended in a hairpin turn at Mile 4. Somewhere in between Mile 2-3 I had the sense to take my iPod off my armband and hold it. The jiggling sometimes causes it to die. It was fine after that for the rest of the race. Also during that time I somehow took off my top layer shirt (the day began at 43 degrees, did I mention that?) tied it around my waist without stopping.
On the last bit of Memorial Drive after hitting Mile 4 we were facing the Mass Ave./Harvard Bridge and the sight was completely amazing. A wall of women runners from beginning to end on the bridge. It was one of the most unbelievable things I have ever seen.
As I took the left on to the Harvard Bridge Paramore's "Looking Up" came on my iPod and I was instantly overcome. "Honestly can you believe we crossed the world while it's asleep? I'd never trade it because I've always wanted this. It's not a dream anymore, it's worth fighting for." I teared up, I couldn't breathe. Here I was, accomplishing one of the hugest goals I have ever had in my life, crossing the bridge with a full sunny panoramic view of Boston. I was totally overwhelmed. This moment was all mine.
At the end of the bridge (about Mile 4.5) I was definitely tired. My knees hurt from the pavement, my quads were burning, I was wondering where the 5th milemarker was. As I took the left on to Commonwealth Ave., and finally hit Mile 5, there was a water stop with all guys in tuxes and suits. It was awesome! And boosted my morale, lol. 1.2 miles to go I told myself.
I took the final right on Arlington Street and then left on Boylston Street. I hit the final stretch and Mile 6. I could see the clock. I felt like I was floating. I took off and crossed the final line and pumped my fist in the air. I DID IT!
Just then, as I was walking from the finish line, I see John breathless with a huge sign that says "RUN KIM."
WHAT?!? He didn't have Columbus Day off, works in Waltham, wasn't supposed to be there at all, and didn't tell me he was coming. WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! I said and then burst into tears. We hugged and he told me he called my name so loud at the final stretch and all of the people around him did too and I didn't hear him over my iPod. I felt like such a jerk but he was fine. I told him I did so good and the race was amazing. He had to jet back to work so we said goodbye. I walked around, got water, got my bag, and met back up with the girls.
Post-race:
Overall it was awesome. I'm so proud of myself. My only gripe about the whole thing was the volume of runners. Even though all the streets were closed off it was very difficult to navigate through all of the people running. There was no real stretch where I had a straight space to run in front of me. I bobbed and weaved a lot (maybe also why my knees hurt now).
The best thing about this race was that I felt so calm. I have to admit, normally I am an anxious wreck before a race. But all of that was gone. I trained. I knew how much work I put in. I was ready. I was just so ready. And that, in itself, was the most amazing part.
Results:
Place Divpl Tot Div Guntime Nettime Pace Name Bib # Hometown ===== ===== ==== ===== ======= ======= ===== ================================================= 4606 1215/1473 F2029 1:15:55 1:11:03 11:27 Kim Keough 2742 Somerville MA Me, post-race:
Full photo gallery here!