The 3rd Annual Nut Run 5k

I’ve been battling this IT band injury for exactly 70 days today. I was discharged from physical therapy a little over a week ago, but the pain still came back (it’s like the cat that just wouldn’t stay away). Fortunately, the therapist gave me her blessing to keep running (as long as I cut my distance) and to treat my injury at home. The date of the half marathon came and went last weekend with just a little bit of heartache, but it was eased by the fact that I knew my friend George and I had signed up to run this 5k.

So, all week, I did everything I could to get my knee as healthy as I possibly could for the race – I faithfully did all of my PT exercises and stretches, I iced and elevated it every chance I could, I foam rolled, I chugged tart cherry juice (a natural anti-inflammatory), I took fish oil (also an anti-inflammatory), and I massaged it and just hoped that it would let me get through the 3.1 miles.

The morning of the race came early after a movie night with friends, but I got up, got ready, and had half a piece of wheat toast with almond butter on my drive to George’s house, where we were meeting to drive to the race together.

George found adorable t-shirts at her running store and we decided that matching outfits was really the way to go for this race. Reason #8,496 that I love her. I’ve always had a thing for matching outfits. And mini buns might be my official race hairstyle. They’re fun and it keeps my hair up and out of my face.

This was the 3rd time I’ve run this pecan grove course and it is my favorite. They change the course slightly every time, which I love, because distances feel longer when I know what to expect.

It’s dirt, which is better on the knees, but it’s packed enough so it doesn’t slide underneath your feet. And even though the trees were mostly bare, they still shaded the majority of the course, which made it practically ideal running conditions on this 61 degree morning. Brightly colored running shoes also make running conditions ideal.

Mile 1 felt…tiring. Because I was trying to follow through on the run 3-minute/walk 3-minute intervals recommended by my PT, I was trying to go all out on the running sections to make up for the walking. It worked, but I just felt kind of sluggish and I was trying to be very conscious of how my knee felt since it has been flaring up at about 1.6 miles lately. At 1.4 miles, I felt it, but I kicked it down a notch and it never developed into pain. Hooray! I also felt bad, because I was the demoralizing yo-yo I described in my first 5k post that I hate so much, zooming past people, then slowing to a walk until they passed me, then passing them again a minute later when I was running.

Mile 2, I was still expecting my knee to get angry at any moment and force me to walk the rest of the course, but it didn’t! I’ve been memorizing Scripture on my runs, so I was listening to Kimbra and Andy Grammar, and thinking about James 1:2-8. Such a productive and calming way to pass running time and I found my groove.

Mile 3, I started feeling great! I had found a comfortable pace and by then, I was ignoring my Garmin interval alerts and just running when I felt like it and walking when I felt like I needed to, but the knee was feeling great! Just as I finished mile 3, I saw the stop clock at the finish line and I realized I might be able to finish in under 35 minutes, which had been the last 5k goal I had set before the injury and that possibility had me THRILLED! I picked up the pace and finished in just under 35 minutes! I didn’t stop my Garmin until after I turned in my time card and they haven’t posted the official results yet, so I don’t know the exact time, but I am more than happy with whatever it is! I wasn’t even thinking about breaking any records on this run!

Having a running buddy is the best, even if you don’t run the race together. I knew my pace was going to be all over the map and George wanted to run more steadily, but it didn’t matter. We’ve been getting each other excited about this race for weeks, keeping tabs on each others’ training, cheering each other on, sharing injury frustrations, and discussing important things like quality brands of stretchy pants and mini bun techniques. It was so much more motivating to get up and out of bed at 5:45am knowing that I was going to spend time with her.

Also, post-race running buddy breakfasts are the best. The race offered bananas and oranges at the finish line, but we all know how I feel about bananas (blech!) and I’m never hungry right after a race. However, an hour after the race? I’m ravenous. We went to The Cup Cafe at Hotel Congress, a restaurant downtown and chowed down on baked eggs, omelets, and the most amazing breakfast potatoes.

And, my favorite part of running a 5k…the race t-shirt!

It felt so good to run a race again. I haven’t signed up for another race yet, but I’m going to find one now! They’re such good motivation to keep running consistently and working toward new goals. And it sounds like there may be a 10k in the cards for us later this year. And, obviously, more mini buns.