Welcome to a Valley Harvest Half Marathon Race Recap by Love Training More Athlete Sarah Waugh
Ok so this will be a first, I’ve never written a race recap before because to be quite honest I’ve never wanted to relive one of my races before.
So the week leading up to the race was so hectic, I had a 13 hr work trip up to Sydney on Thursday which was the first time I’ve left my baby for more then 6 hrs, but as I was waiting in the airport to come home my amazing race plan came through on my email. I sat reading the plan in the airport with a grin on my face and tears in my eyes. For the first time I felt confident and that I had done everything I could have to make this race successful.
That brings us to race day morning! I had a great car load of runners to take with me, my good friend Meghan, coach Erin and her training partner Alan. The chat was all about racing, the amazing feat of the sub 2hr marathon was a highlight and we all chatted through our race plans. It was calming, I had the nerves but not the all consuming, stomach turning nerves I typically have. I was able to laugh off some of those previous race failures I’ve had and even the reminder from my mum that “sweetie, remember you don’t race that well…” (this comes for a place of love after watching many many disappointments in the pool during my youth).
We followed the race diva’s (aka coach Erin) plan to park nice and close to the start line. We got there nice and early with an awesome parking spot. While Erin and Alan went off to do their hardcore warm up, Meghan and I kept it lose and fun with a short km.
I managed to keep it cool and walked to the start line with Erin. After a good luck hug we parted ways and found of respective spots on the line! This is it I said to myself, you’ve got this!
Part one: BE SMART! This part was for my husband, he has watched me through two stress fractures and two bonked marathons. It was my time to be smart for him. I chilled out right around the 1:50 pace bunny. With my eye on my watch I kept it to where I needed to be, it didn’t feel great but it felt ok, I started to feel the confidence I needed. I tried to keep Erin’s advice in mind and pick out the moments that would make the memories later on. This happened when I turned the corner towards Port Williams and could see the beautiful dykes and fields in front of me, I was reminded this was where my husband proposed to me (being smart of course). A smile came across my face when I saw the stream of runners ahead of me, it was a beautiful sight.
Part two: YOU ARE FIT. This part was for my crew, these amazing boss lady runners who are so fit and supportive. I thought of all the amazing things they’ve accomplished and the joys we’ve shared on every run whether it’s been a slog or a good day. The pace seemed to naturally speed up as I settled in, it didn’t feel harder it was comfortable. I knew the rolling hills were coming but as they did I embraced them and kept the pace. As my crew knows, I love those ups! Breakfast, lunch and dinner! As I approached the out and back I saw coach speeding out and felt motivated! The turn around cone felt forever away but I spotted the 1:45 pace group not too far ahead…the chase was on. I saw many smiling faces at the turn around and Barry and I had a fist pumping moment 🙂
Part three: YOU ARE FIERCE! This was for my daughter. As so many mums of girls know it’s our job to raise them as fierce girls who can tackle the world. As I looked at my watch the pace kept creeping up, I knew there were a few more ups in the section and I couldn’t maintain this pace. I thought to myself, to be fierce I would teach my daughter to hold a bit back, don’t lay all your cards on the table right away. As I got to the top of a long up, I spotted it again, the 1:45 pace group. This was a goal I never thought attainable. I said to myself, it’s not time to be fearless yet, bide your time. Although coach suggested this was the time that negative thoughts may cross my mind, it never happened, I remained focused on my points and enjoyed everything around me. This is a first for me, in all of my serious races before this I’ve been consumed with negatives which typically causes me to stop and walk, I wasn’t conscious of it at the time but looking back it just didn’t happen.
Part four: YOU ARE FEARLESS. This one is close to my heart, it was for a childhood friend undergoing Chemo for ovarian cancer. She is the definition of fearless, as is her family. The pace continued to quicken, but I felt ok. I knew I still had to climb back to the main road into Wolfville so it wasn’t time to lay it all in the table yet. And then it happened, something I never dreamed of, I got the bunny. As I came near her she called out, “I hear you coming!” When I got to her I responded, “you’re my dream bunny, take me in!”, the plan: stick with her until the bitter end, I got this!
And then the hill came.
It was a dream, I powered up and kept going, I could hear her encouraging others behind me and I just kept it going. The next hill came right by the farm market, this was it, the last one. The head bunny was on the hill, he felt my battle, he dug in with me and got me up. Now, run to Doreen, it was a longer stretch then I anticipated but I kept moving. When I saw her the fists were pumping in the air, the tears were there. This was a much different reunion then two years ago in Ottawa, no hugs, the petal was still down. Then Meghan, I knew she was waiting to run me in after her awesome 10k. I got to her and breathlessly said, “sub 5”, as I knew that’s what I needed to make that unbelievable goal of 1:45. She broke the path for me, between the 10k walkers and onto the stadium track. I felt her peel off, and I could see the chute. Then I said, and heard Erin, I couldn’t look at my watch, I just knew I needed to move. She took me all the way to the line. That was it. I didn’t bonk, I didn’t fail. I did what I didn’t think I could achieve.
It’s fitting this race happened on Thanksgiving weekend. I feel so thankful for everything about the race and the many many months that lead up to it. Running may be something we often do alone but it’s the tribe behind us that propels our feet. From my coach, my boss lady crew to the many volunteers who make the day and of course my family who allow me to leave for hours at a time then complain about my aches and pains, thank you for it all.
