This was my 5th time running the Phelps Sauerkraut 20k race and I can honestly say that it is not getting any easier. This is absolutely the hardest physical and mental race that I run all year long. It’s strange, I survived both of the monster sized hills, but the flats and smaller inclines seemed to get the best of me!
It started out rough because I left my house almost an hour later than I had wanted to. Incredibly happy that my sister and niece were taking part in the 5k race and they were able to pick up my number for me so I didn’t have to stress over that. With running late I really wasn’t able to warm up…at all, and I felt it through the ENTIRE race. The first mile was probably the best feeling mile, and it was by far the best mile of the day at 8:06. It was really odd because I was would be running, feeling incredibly uncomfortable and slow and I would check my watch and see a solid pace time – typically low to mid 8’s. That confused me even more! My hip flexors were tight the entire time and still are unfortunately. It just seemed odd, but I’m pretty sure that’s why I struggled on some of the flat areas, that and it’s amazing how incredibly warm it is out there on the course even when the temps are in the upper 60’s! From what I was told by people watching runners go by my mom’s house between mile 3 & 4 it looked like most all of us were struggling.
I had 3 goals going into today’s race (in order):
1. Finish in under 2hrs
2. RUN both of the monster hills on the course (Seriously this course makes the Mountain Goat seem EASY)
3. Complete the race under my own power and not in an ambulance.
Unfortunately I finished in an actual time of 02:02:20, but the good news is that this is my 2nd best finishing time here. Believe it or not my best time ever was the first time I ran it!
I CONQUERED BOTH OF THE MONSTER HILLS!!!
And of course I completed the race under my own power, which you have to understand is absolutely a possibility to have to be taken off the course in an ambulance because of the heat and difficulty of it all, not to mention because I have been running hurt most of the year. The good thing is that my quad and hamstring pulls seem to have healed; however, I am battling a bad case of Plantar Fascitis in my left foot. Rest doesn’t seem to be helping it unfortunately so I just run through the pain. (yes I know this is not good)
I can’t say THANK YOU enough to all of the volunteers and my friends and family who were there supporting me along the race course and at the finish line. Most importantly though THANK YOU to all of those that have donated to the Frannie’s Fanny Packs Fundraiser! As of last check $565 has been raised towards the $1,000 goal. As I mentioned before I will be keeping this fundraiser open until the goal is met. I will be running the ARC Half Marathon on September 6 in Syracuse and I would LOVE to finish that race surpassing the goal for FFP.
THANK YOU ALL AGAIN SO MUCH!!!