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
 
 

50 comments:

  1. Love this story! You two had an amazing experience that you've gotten to share together, which will always be special.

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  2. There are definitely many different ways to think of a "worst race". I think for me the ones that stand out as the worst and the ones that were the hardest to get through mentally. Usually the heat and hills affect me and from there I feel like I just want to give up!

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  3. I love this twist on the "worst" philosophy! I'm so glad you ladies were able to run together and you were able to see things you wouldn't have normally noticed otherwise! Sounds like a really fun experience! :)

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    1. Yes. It definitely was nice to see things in a different perspective.

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  4. Before the marathon, I was reading a book by Jeff Galloway. He said that he had more fun in his slower races then the ones he PR'ed for basically the same reasons. I'm glad you had fun!
    @heatherlas

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  5. Amen, it is NOT about the PR. If you do it just for that (I'm not going to lie - they are awesome), you set yourself up for failure. The focus should be on the experience. The PRs will come too.

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    1. Exactly! PRs are fun but I don't think you enjoy the race as much bc you are too focused on your time.

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  6. How awesome to be able to run with your sister for her first marathon. I'm sure she was so grateful to have you by her side. I think it's good to take things at a different pace once in awhile and take things in from a different perspective.

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    1. Yes it was. So glad I was able to run w my sister for her first marathon. She is even talking about doing it again next yr.

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  7. Really awesome way to look at things. Sometimes we get distracted by our own goals and times and forget that running is FUN. That was a fun run you just described. An awesomely fun run.

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    1. Yes. I think we focus so much on PRs that we don't appreciate the race. We have to remember why we run, because we love it. Not because of PRs.

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  8. I am not a runner but my sister is, she has asked me to run with her in races but I have always felt like I would hold her back. Maybe I should so she can get a different experience!

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    1. Yes you should. I bet she would love runing with you.

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  9. What a great way to look at the race and a great different perspective. I like going slower during Disney races so I can soak up the park, but then I'd like to speed up after MK. Going towards the Magic Kingdom is exciting.

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    1. Yes it is. So exciting! I think I will take my time from now on at Disney races to enjoy it. And focus on other races for times.

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  10. How cool to be able to run at Disney. So glad that you both had such an amazing experience together.

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    1. It was a great experience. Even with my sister struggling at times. We were at each other sides along the way.

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  11. I totally agree. My slowest half marathon was running with my sister for her first. But I loved it. It was such a great experience. If I ever ran a Disney race it definitely wouldn't be for time, I would just want to soak up the experiences.

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    1. That is what you have to do for Disney races for sure! Enjoy the experience and take it all in.

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  12. I would consider my worst race the 2013 Wine & Dine half. I was so worried about getting a PR that I crashed and burned and was so upset at the end. I forgot to enjoy the experience!

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    1. I am the same way. It's like setting yourself up for failure. From now on I am going to just enjoy the race and if I come out with a great time, that's even better.

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  13. Sounds like it was one of your best races too! Love the perspecitve

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  14. I so adore this post.... it goes back to just having fun... time means nothing unless you're going for first... & who wants to be that out of breath :) haha

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    1. Exactly! It's not like we are ever coming in first, so why not enjoy the race.

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  15. Maybe because I am no longer chasing PRs, I didn't even think about my 'worst' race being my slowest. Actually my slowest race was one of my best. : )

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    1. This is by far my slowest but my most favorite since I got to run it with my sister.

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  16. People run races for different reasons. Who's to say that a race where you PR is your "best" race? That's so subjective. What if that "best" race also included tripping over a curb and skinning your knee, or your music not working, or it starts to pour rain? You didn't enjoy it at all but it's supposed to be your "best" race, just cuz you PR'd? Nope. running a fun race that you enjoyed, with friends/family sounds like qualifiers for "best" race to me...definitely not "worst" race. :)

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    1. There are so many reasons to what constitutes a best or worse race. Luckily I have never had a worse race due to injury or beieng ill so I chose this one since it was my slowest, but my favorite:)

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  17. I agree that "best" and " worst" can be interpreted so differently. I love the different perspectives of this race. I'm not sure what my best would be--maybe even not one where I got a PR--but I absolutely have a worst--my first half where I got so nauseated that I was in pain for the whole day & night after the race. It ranks up there in the top five of times I've felt sickest in my whole life.

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    1. I think my first half was pretty bad as well. Definitely didn't train as much as I should've and thought I'd never run again.

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  18. I love this post so dramatically hard! Do you two need a third sister? :) I love the perspective that a PR doesn't necessarily make a great race (although it doesn't hurt, lol) and that sometimes it's the race experience that really makes a great race. I'm so glad you both had a wonderful time! Thanks for linking up with us today!

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    1. The more the marrier:) Next mth I will be stepping back again to run the Princess with my sister and mom.

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  19. I don't know if I'd consider this a "worst"! There were so many wins here!

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  20. LOVE this story. Sounds like a great time running. Important to enjoy it, especially in Disney.

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  21. Love this post, and I really loved that you stayed with your sister and helped her get to the finish line!
    I am kind of like you, when I look back at my races I don't know if I really have a "worst" I enjoy (after) each and every marathon I have run. But sometimes bad things happen, or times increase, who knows. But we learn from all of them, and even "worst" races have their highlights and special moments!!!

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    1. Thanks! It was fun writing this post looking at it as a different perspective. Every race you run , you really do learn something new I believe.

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  22. I love this story! You two are lucky to have each other and every race won't be a PR sometimes you run one just to run one and help someone else :) great!

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  23. LOVE this! Everyone should run at least one Disney race totally for fun. I walked the Princess last year with my BRF who had serious IT Band issues (normally she's way faster than I am) and we had a BALL. Stopped for a million pictures and laughed like crazy people. Oh, and felt great afterwards! So fun!

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  24. There is so, SO much more to a race than a PR! This is a great post. I don't think of any of my races negatively -- or, at least I try not to. Even if I struggled, even if I didn't finish strong, even if I didn't PR...I still learn something every single time I cross that finish line! :)

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  25. I love this post! Sometimes I run for a PR which is great but other times I run for the experience and the fun which is mostly what I do for Disney races. When people ask about my time for those races, I always tell them " it is not about the finish time but the finish line and PRing in fun" and then I usually show them my great pics.

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  26. I absolutely love your post!
    I agree with you, how do you define a worst race? So long as a race doesn't end with an injury and if you finish then there are plenty of things to celebrate there. I'm so glad you had a great time racing with your sister!

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  27. That's so great that you ran it together and that you got to experience some more about runDisney races than you have before. I think certain races are made for the experience and enjoyment, rather than time, and runDisney races are that for me. I know a lot of people want PR's, but for something like that, I think it's more important to take in all of the wonderful sights and memories :)

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