On Sunday April 27th I ran my second Manassas Airport 10k. It seems fitting that this was the last race I made a personal record in before my fall from grace due to Arthur’s revenge and my first coming back with a PR. Sunday’s PR was unexpected for a number of reasons.
The first and prime reason the time I ran was unexpected, was I did not feel I was in shape to beat the time I had the spring prior. Spring 2013 other than a nasty sinus infection/chest infection thanks to steroids and chemo I was in the best running shape of my life. The 2013 race I did bonk out the last 2 miles but I had held tremendously fast times the first half. Those run times were ones I had not really pushed for this spring. I knew after several rocky months I had to rebuild slowly and I accepted that I was working with a damaged hip and now a new drug protocol. Apparently I underestimated myself in this regard my body despite the damage is ready to run it is ready to race and it is ready to be pushed to the limit.
The second reason I did not expect a PR was due to a family situation that had taken a lot of my time and stressed me to the point of flare. Three days prior to the 10k I went into the doctor to confirm a costochondritis flare (inflammation in the ribcage), and I was put on a pack of Medrol steroid. Since I am newly on Remicaide I now have to watch how I react after my next infusion to make sure this was driven by the stressful situation if it wasn’t they’ll up my dosage to every 6 weeks rather than 8. Costochondritis is not a fun thing to run with it causes stabbing pains in the ribs that are similar to what you would get from a heart attack. I happened to get it quickly and bad enough that I had inflammation on the sides as well pushing on my diaphragm and kidneys. This makes for a lot of cramping just breathing let alone running. To top off the costochondritis situation due to the family situation I also missed a good deal of training due to flare and helping my family out. So this adds up to losing training, plus running through pain and that is not conducive to a PR.
Why would I run a race knowing I have no chance at a PR? The reason is because in order to prepare for a PR the next month in the half marathon distance (over twice the distance of a 10k) I needed to know what I was dealing with. I needed the information from this run to fine tune for the run in 3 weeks making the most of the final two long runs, and three speed works going into the half marathon. I also knew that if I want to run PRs and I want to run strong I have to run despite pain I have to push through. By Sunday I would have three days of steroid in my system hopefully enough to let me run a decent pace to get a rough estimate of where I was physically. Finally I must run through bad conditions in order to run through snafus at a race. You never know when your diaphragm may freeze up unexpectedly, you will cramp, your nutrition plan could act up, etc. The best way to face these uncertainties is to train dealing with them head on which is exactly what I did at the Airport 10k.
The Airport 10k is exactly what it sounds like 6.2 miles of running through an airport primarily on its runways. This means the course is flat. Flat means PR potential. Airport also means another thing no protection from the elements, you are exposed to everything sun, wind, rain etc. It’s the best and worst of both worlds but often leans towards the best for running.
April is an interesting time in Northern, VA for runners. It can either be very warm, or very cold. It can be dry, snowy, sleet, rain, or high winds. It’s a good season for runners though because typically the temps are not too cold but not too warm. Runners will run through anything but typically have preferences of temperatures, weather conditions, etc. April provides a relatively good and stable time frame in this area for a good chance at PR weather.
Going into the Airport 10k I knew the temps would be cool, around 45 degrees, I also had done a progressive easy run Friday with costo that told me if careful and warmed up I could push the pace. I went in feeling rested, injury free, and with enough information to finish with a good pace. I knew my greatest issue would be at 45 degrees keeping my chest warm. Cold air plus inflamed ribs equals cramping and diaphragm ceasing which means a lot of pain and difficulty running. Having faced this before I knew it was better for me to be on the warmer side keeping my ribs warm than cold. I also knew it was important for me to warm up and stretch so I wouldn’t be stiff at the start of my run which could also contribute to cramping of not just the diaphragm but my muscles as well. Steroids make me much more likely to get charley horses and other cramps so I knew it wasn’t just my diaphragm at 3 days in I had to be leery of I had to baby the rest of me as well.
The morning of the race arrived with an early wake up on my alarm, followed by a huge gust of wind. My first thoughts were great this is going to be interesting. I grabbed a running jacket to put with my clothes and ate my breakfast of running choice. Then I prerace showered to let the heat and steam open my lungs, and slathered volteran gel on my knees and hips. After this I grabbed my race gear and headed out. Upon arrival I picked up my bib, and took a photo with the “Mom’s Run this Town” chapter from my area. Then I warmed up, stretched and headed to the start line. The start line was cold I tried to keep moving to not get too cold.
As the race started I wanted to warm up quick I bolted out. My first mile was a <8 something I’d never seen in a race before. The second mile came around the next runway however and this is where the head wind started. The winds were high and my eyes watered despite my sunglasses so tears streaked my cheeks in addition to this my diaphragm cramped due to the cold air in my lungs. I did not let this deter me I pushed and wouldn’t stop running, one thing training through very active disease taught me was yes I can push through pain and I took that lesson to heart here. I looked down 9 and low change as I came across mile 2. I felt good as the cramp subsided and did not let this drop in time deter me. I knew I’d pushed hard the first mile, and faced heavy wind plus cramps that I’d worked through I could continue with a hard effort and make up for it. This is where I started to think I can come close to my PR from last year just keep pushing. I decided to hold a 8:45 pace the next two miles and ate at around 2.5 half a pack of caffeinated sports beans. At just before mile 3 the course for the 10k goes left, and the 5k goes right to the finish. Apparently the winds were so high that morning many cut their course finishing a 5k rather than the 10k. I took my turn into the airport side roads and started my push. Mile 4 was a downhill in head wind I cramped again but just told myself the turnaround uphill out of the wind is just ahead push for speed. I turned and at 4.5 I ran up the only slow uphill that lasted about .75 miles. I decided at mile 5 I felt good I’d push a <8:30 the last 2 miles and go for the PR because my times were signaling it was possible. Mile 5 I pushed just enough to bring in a good time bellow 8:30 but left enough gas to rev my time for the last 1.2 miles. The last 1.2 I did a progressive push the first half I pushed harder than the mile before, the second half I pushed even harder, and as the Garmin beeped for six I started the push towards the sprint, at .1 out I pushed as hard as I could to the finish. I smacked the Garmin crossing the line to see 52:18 and my jaw dropped then the tears fell.
Going into this race I did not expect to approach the 53:56 I had run the year before. The 52:18 meant I smashed my race in a way I never thought possible. After a year of struggle against my own disease I knew there was a possibility I just ran my first <8:30 10k. The official results came that night a 51:59, a 1:55 PR. In terms of distance a 10k is won by seconds or fractions of a second many times. PRs usually come also by seconds or half a minute not almost 2 whole minutes. My PR meant I’d dropped 11 seconds per mile from my last running of this course. It meant I was in close to the same fitness level I had been the year before. It was a victory not just for running but over arthritis. It was unexpected, and satisfying but extremely emotional. Sometimes the greatest victories are those we do not expect, the ones that sneak up on us and tell us you are worthy and you have won. I may not be 100% back to where I was last spring but I know I am almost there and my climb to even better times dependent on that I stay healthy is possible.
I am thankful that I did this race, and proud that I pushed. I earned this PR. Going into this run my only goal was to show Arthur who was boss. To come as close to last year as possible to prove I could still run good times and work from that. Instead I trampled Arthur into the ground and said this is my body, this is my run, and I can beat the clock. Triumph is the best breakfast a soul can have and I am happy to have had that feast after a famine I worried at one point would not end. There is work to be done but I am ready to do it. I am ready to be the best I can be and not afraid of this disease’s affects from last year anymore.
Captain Angry Bones
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