The Frosty 5k – A runners attempt at walking

My gawsh does my cell phone have a very LOUD alarm for a very small phone. 5:00 a.m. Sunday March 7th 2010. Ack. Who in heaven’s name gets up at 5am on a Sunday? Easy answer: Runners!!! Whoa there doggy. I wasn’t a runner this morning I was a walker. I was going to be walking the Frosty 5K with my daughter Chelsea. The race bug bit her last year when I took her to the Run for the Cure in Toronto.

I had been prepping Chelsea, the night before about night before race day protocol. Get your race clothes ready – bra, undies, socks, tech shirts, jacket, gloves/mitts & bottoms & shoes. Then clothes to change in to after the race, did she have a race bag to put all of that in? I’d carry the water belt for her so she didn’t have to. I packed a gel for her as well, just in case. I also outlined our race strategy, for a 45 minute 5 K walk, which was her goal time; we’d need to do a 9min/k pace. Uhmmm everything was ticked off my list to explain and carry out. Phew.
So with all that laid out & discussed, I went to bed safe in the knowledge that things were ready for the A.M.

Both our alarms went off simultaneously – up I got, let the dogs our, boil the kettle for brekkie, feed the dogs, let the dogs out again, triple check the bags, pack the water bottle. Get dressed, brush my teeth, check in on Chelsea make sure she was up. Oh yes indeed, there she was straightening her hair and putting on her makeup. Ahhh to be 17 years old again…. Ack. “Chelsea it’s a race, not a beauty contest!!” “ Yeah Mum I know that’s why I’m just putting mascara and liner on”

*blank stare*

And we were out the door on time – that NEVER happens. She must have been excited.
Today was the day Chelsea would do her second 5K walk race at Burlington, The Frosty 5. Didn’t think it would be too frosty as the weather was going to be sunny and high of 9, but okay.
We got to the Spirit Catcher before the bus did so all good signs.
It was a lively trip down to the race. First a quick stop to pick up a last minute entry at Hwy 9, way to go Mike, nice of you to bring a coffee just for you, not the rest of the bus. Then our routine stop at the Tim’s off the 400 in Vaughan, back on the bus and next stop BURLINGTON.
We got there with plenty of time for Chelsea to get those annoying butterflies in her tummy. Oh boy was she nervous. Me… nahhh.. 5K walk? I can do that.

Off to the start line we went. Advised my girlie that since we were near the start line we’d have to keep to the right so the runners could get by us with little difficulty, it was after all the proper protocol.

10:05 we all, including the halfers, started our respective races. To the right we stayed. I was amazed how many runners were trying to fit between me and the railing. Dudes… TO THE LEFT, TO THE LEFT… argh.

I tell you that was the hardest race I’ve ever done. The urge to start running was almost uncontrollable, Chelsea’s cries of “you’re going too fast!!!” barely audible as I sallied forth. YIKES… no wonder she wasn’t keeping up. Whoops my bad. So I managed to slow it down to our goal pace of 9 min/ k. The first half was very difficult for both of us – for Chelsea to listen to me saying “Come on, come on” and for me to try not to be the drill sergeant & not to get too far ahead. Finally as I was turning around at the half way mark, it struck me how much I hated hearing people faster than I am when I’m running with them say “come on come on” it was like I was holding them back from something which increased my anxiety level and added unneeded pressure on me. Could my daughter be feeling this too? Undoubtedly yes. It was time to change tactics. So I slowed down a wee bit. Coached her biomechanics a bit more, got her focused on a couple of walkers/runners ahead of us. “See those two gals?”

“The honkytonkybadonkadonk girls?”

“yep, you want to catch up and pass them”

That was all the motivation she needed, she happily focused on her prey and diligently made her way by them. Several times, as they would start running for a short distance, pass us & Chelsea would have to pass them again.
More chatting about how well she was doing & how to deal with stitches, aches and pains and relaxing her mental state was paying off. We didn’t make the 45 minutes – but she came in 46:36 – an awesome time. She took 5 minutes off her 5K time from December, and was most disappointed with that. She truly is a chip off the old block.
And this is why I love the Barrie group.

Everyone congratulated her and helped her understand that 46 – was as good as 45. One minute off your goal time isn’t a crime. You just get to look forward to the next race!
Right now she’s aiming to do the Harry Rosen Spring Run Off 5K walk in April. We’ll have to do a bit of hill training. High Park is a wonderfully hilly course.

The only negative thing I would have to say about the 5K course is there is no bling. NONE! EGADS… 5Kers put as much effort into their runs & walks as anybody else out there. A bit of bling is a great motivator, I know I’m a bling ho!
This is something to think about all your race co-ordinators, nothing like a bit of bling to get runners/walkers to your event.