I’m speaking on a panel today, so it would have been awesome if all these new visitors to my blog could have seen a fabulous race recap.

Well, this isn’t one of them. (But there’s some here. And some of my favorite posts here. And a recap of this race from last year.)

Last year, I did the NYRR 9+1 program to get into the NYC Marathon for this year’s marathon. I’m not sure if I’ll want to run the NYC Marathon again next year (or even another marathon), but I’m still doing the 9+1 this year so that I have the option. I’ve basically been signing up for races if I happen to be free, and so that’s why I signed up for today’s Healthy Kidney 10K in Central Park.

Signing up for a race because you’re free, not because you want to run it, is a terrible reason to run a race, by the way.

I laid in bed and contemplated bailing until I saw Rebecca tweet at me and ask me which corral I was in.

FINE. I’ll run this.

I took Bailey out for a quick walk, got dressed and headed up to the park.

I was late for bib pick-up but they were still open. (I’m pretty sure they stay open until the race starts, FYI.)

It was super-crowded, but I still somehow managed to find Meghan, which was wonderful, because I ran the first half of the race with her and we chatted. It didn’t feel easy, but we were doing about a 9:20ish pace, which was fine with me. At some point after mile 3, I just wasn’t feeling it and really need to stop to walk. I wish I hadn’t. I had a really hard time starting again after that and ended up taking quite a few walking breaks from there until the end and stopping just past mile 5 to use the bathroom.

After getting out of work a little late last night, I met friends for a few drinks and didn’t have a real dinner–I just picked at some appetizers with them. I don’t know if I was underfuled or what, but this race was so incredibly hard, both mentally and physically. A few times between miles 3 and 5, I contemplated just walking off the course, but I think I’m too stubborn for that.

While a big part of me still sort of wishes I’d stayed in bed, I guess what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger, right? I also think that even if I’m not feeling a race, I need to trick myself into getting excited for it.

So…

I’M SO EXCITED FOR THE WALL STREET RUN TUESDAY! (No, I really am, though. I liked that course.)