Sellwood Scamper 5k Race Report

Last weekend was a big racing weekend in our household. I started us off with a 5k fun-run in nearby Sellwood. It was a free event to promote the opening of a new Foot Traffic running store and I signed up a couple of weeks ago. I have been wanting to do some kind of little race- it's been so long and I just miss it! I miss writing race reports! I also wanted to run a couple races while pregnant, because that is just fun. (This wasn't my first race while pregnant- I ran/walked a 7 mile trail race at 7 weeks pregnant, but was only secretly pregnant and also very paranoid and it wasn't that fun at all.) So this was a perfect opportunity. It was a super casual event run around the neighborhood streets (the course wasn't closed, but little to no traffic to deal with), but with perks like a free pair of socks to all participants and even chip timing and professional photos.

The split the run into two waves: 8:00 am and 9:00 am to ease congestion. I was in the later wave, and being only about 4 miles from home made for a very relaxed morning! I got in line for the store's bathroom (the only bathroom) right away and that took about 20 minutes of waiting. Having to pee all the time is a big concern these days so I was glad to empty my bladder. Although I still felt like I had to pee the entire race. I'm pretty used to that feeling but it is not pleasant.

I had picked up my timing chip the day before so all I had to do was park and walk to the starting line. It was such a casual, family-friendly setting with only a few "serious" runners about. I was excited but not nervous at all, since I obviously wasn't trying to run fast or anything. To be completely honest, I had a moment of feeling somewhat embarrassed for myself (and by "somewhat" I mean I broke down sobbing for a couple minutes before I got out of the car). Like "this is what I've been reduced to" kind of feeling. With a dash of "do you know who I am?!" I've admitted before that I'm an egomaniac, so I'm not afraid to tell you this. I wonder if some of you would relate to this feeling. I know I'm pregnant, and it's great that I'm still running, but it still hard to accept this new level of fitness and lifestyle. Also, I'm clearly an emotional, hormonal wreck.

One thing that made me feel ok about doing this 5k fun run was wearing an adorable "Running for Two" shirt that Amy gave me! And my Ironman hat. Not that anyone noticed or cared, but it was important to me to blatantly announce that I was pregnant and also show my racing credentials. I would have incorporated some Boston gear in that outfit if it was possible. Shameless.   

The sun was shining and all the trees and flowers are starting to bloom. Sellwood is a really cute neighborhood so this was a lovely setting for a little race. Part of the race went along this bluff and you could see downtown across the river. Zach got some good photos (posted below) including a bald eagle in flight!

I took it easy and just enjoyed the run. I felt like I was running very slow and was being passed by a few people that started further back. My garmin showed I was around a 10:00 pace, which is actually fast for me these days, but I felt great! However about halfway through I started to feel my face getting hot, which was obviously a sign of exertion. So I backed off and walked up the last hill. I figured I would finish in 31-33 minutes or something, but as we got back toward the start they had us cut out about a block and head straight for the finish line, making the course about .2 miles short. Sub 30 finish here I come!

Mile 1: 10:02
Mile 2: 9:58
Last 0.91: 9:25 (10:19 pace)

Garmin showed: 2.91 miles in 29:25- 10:06 average pace

Official results: 29:24 (9:27 pace, HA!)
17/38  30-34 AG
83/201 Females
134/288 Overall

A decent time for 23 weeks pregnant!

I got some water and walked around a couple minutes to cool down. I stretched out and we headed back to the car. Done and done! Now that wasn't so bad, was it?

Pictures!

 

 

 

 

The next day, Zach ran a race that was 10 times that distance. The Gorge Waterfalls 50k. I went along with my friend Deana and we got to see him at several points of the race. He did so great! Every time I saw him he was super relaxed and friendly- not the "don't bother me" husband I used to see grinding it out in road races! It was such fun. He finished in 4:47 (9:15 pace), 24th out of 223 runners. That's about an hour faster than his first 50k last year. He's in fine form with only 8 weeks until his 50 mile race!

 

 

Thanks for reading!