What do you mean, a worse race?

Every race that we do, we always want to improve, right?  When I found out the topic for this week's Tuesdays on the Run was what was your worst race and what did you learn from it, I had to think quite a bit about this one, because honestly I don't think I  had a worst race. How do you define a worst race? Is it not PRing? Is it not feeling well during the race?  Or maybe fighting an injury throughout it?

I decided that my worst race actually ending up being my favorite race. Let me explain.  Last year you may have recalled that my sister was going to run the Big Sur Marathon with me for her first marathon. Due to the injuries she encountered during her training she was unable to do it. I told her since she was unable to do that race, I would run the Disney World Marathon with her the next year as her first. It was my first a few years ago, and I believe it is a perfect first marathon to run. Since I had run the marathon in the past I told her that I would like to challenge myself and run the Goofy Challenge.  I would run the half for myself then make sure I would be at the starting line with her during the marathon. A few days later she said to me "well if you are running the half I should too." Well surely I couldn't let her run it by herself. And plus she loves putting outfits together so we would have to run together in order for great pictures, right? Well there goes my chance of PRing in any of the races.

 

At first I thought to myself,  I was setting myself up for failure.  Who signs up for a race knowing that they are not going to run it at their full potential? 

 

Well I have to say, training for this race (or lack of) was the most enjoyable. Before races I tend to stress myself out with many things, but I had absolutely no stress at all. There was a part of me that half felt bad. Here is my sister in a strenuous training program for her first marathon and has encountered many injuries along the way, and here I am just breezing through. Either way I told her no matter what happens,  I will be right at her side through the whole thing.

 

We were placed in the middle of the corral pack. Normally I am in the front of the corals that quickly spread out so you can find your own pace. This was a little different than what I am used to. I am used to getting through the parks quickly and seeing (or  not) certain things because I am used to running the majority of it in the dark.  This time, while running the sun came out and I actually saw things that I never noticed before in past races. It was actually approaching daylight as we came up on Main Street in Magic Kingdom. I've only ever run on Main Street in the dark (with the exception of the lights from the park). We took time for some pictures in front of the castle during each race(something I would have never done if I was running by myself). Just hearing the music in the park and the excitement as we ran through was pure joy!  We ran all 39.3 miles that weekend without listening to our own music (another first for me). This allowed me to read more signs and interact with the crowds. I even took some pretzels from a lovely lady handing out snacks.  

 

When preparing for the marathon, there were several things my sister asked me from my previous experience  ( like about the Expedition Everest roller coaster. I had no idea about this because when I ran through Animal Kingdom last time, neither the park nor the ride was open).  To be honest, I could hardly answer any of her questions because I didn't remember much. Buzzing through the parks, mostly in the dark, listening to music through your own headphones does not make for such a great race experience. It might be the makings of a new PR, but that's about it.

 

 

So if you want to consider a worst race being the worst time ( 2hrs more that normally), then yes this was my worst race. However what I learned throughout this all is there is so much more that a PR in a race. Though it was my worst time, I have to say it was my favorite race because I got to run it with my sister and be there for her first marathon!   -L