Today’s Tuesdays on the Run linkup poses the question: What was your worst race? Ouch. Bad races? I’ve had a few.
Mostly my races have gone bad due to weather. I’ve had more than my share of heat, rain, hurricanes and the like. The most extreme are detailed here.
But the absolute worst race? That distinction goes to Chicago Marathon 2010. I chose it because I gave up mentally. I pride myself on being mentally strong. On this day that was not the case.
Surprise! It was hot. Again. Not quite as hot as 2007, but still.
Delirious fake smile at the starting line. I knew full well the agony that lay ahead.
I think the heat brought back the PTHS (that’s post traumatic heat stress) I suffered at the very same marathon in 2007. Every sordid detail about just how miserable death marching 26.2 miles in blistering heat and humidity came back to me and I just never mentally got my head around doing it again.
Plus I was already scheduled to run the Grand Rapids Half Marathon the following weekend. In my heat-addled brain, I’d just switch to the full next week. Images of autumn leaves and cool temps danced in my head. So much so that by mile 9 I was on the phone calling the Caveman to come and get me. I couldn’t get ahold of him so I made it to the charity village at mile 14 and flopped down while volunteers stuffed my tank with ice. It was there that the Caveman asked me if I could finish. I answered “Yes I CAN finish, I just don’t want to in this miserable heat.” He then reminded me that I was running on a charity team and would be letting everybody down, most of all myself, if I gave up. So I sucked it up, picked up my salt-crusted, ice-packed body and plodded on. There might have been swearing. Lots of it.
Sweat much?
In the end I finished that damn race. It was the worst because I mentally gave up at mile 9. I even despise the medal.
Tell me about your worst race.
Don’t forget! This Friday and the last Friday of each month is our Runfession Friday Linkup. Spill your run- gym- and swimfessions and I promise you’ll feel better.
Ugh! The mental is so much of the race too. I completely understand mentally giving up. I have actually not been stuck with high heat races. Perhaps only one? I keep ending up with the opposite and race day gets some unlucky bad cold front. Yes, running in the cold is easier than the heat, but too cold sucks when it’s a full marathon, haha 🙂 I rarely get that perfect 45-50 degree race.
I despise the heat and while I know it sucks to give up mentally, sometimes it just happens! I would have been over it too!!! My worst race is probably a 5k I did and started late because I was in the bathroom. I was so mad at myself!
The heat gets me every time…and usually that leads to my mind giving up and from there its a downward spiral. Something I have been working on too!
I CAN’T run in heat and humidity. But I continue to do so…like it’s going to magically change one day. You are too funny — there might have been swearing. I’ve been there for sure!
Losing your mental toughness is awful…I had this happen at my worst race. You have to fight those negative thoughts in your head and remember why you wanted to run. Congrats on finishing the race!
My mental toughness is something I have to work on, I have grown into the mentality that if everything isn’t just right or how I like it then I break down and talk myself out of things or think about giving up. I am hoping this year is the year I can improve on that aspect of my training.
Any race you finish isn’t all bad – now you have a story from that day. 🙂
Wow! That is a quite a story. And hopefully you will never have to face that kind of day again.
Oh no! Glad that you pushed through though! You should still be proud of the medal!
Heat will seriously take a runner down. I know some people don’t seem to mind it, but oh man oh man it gets me. I had a grueling race in Oct b/c it turned out hot that day. My worst was probably when I tore my plantar fascia. I was in tears the last 3 miles of that one. But the upside was hubby had caught up with me and helped me hobble to the end.
Heat is my nemesis for sure. I still think it’s quite the accomplishment that you made it through.
I’d have to say my worst race with the Schaumburg half marathon in 2012. It was hot, I was miserable, and my stomach revolted around mile 7. I literally stood next to a tree and cried. Thank goodness for my amazing sister who kept me going. I finished, but it was ugly.
Hooray for your husband pushing you to finish!!!
I have to say, I think the single worst combo for racing is a marathon in the heat. Just no fun! But it’s always good to be able to find a little silver lining in there, and I think you did!
It says a lot about your strength of mind and character that you actually kept going and finished that race. You’re one tough chick.
And you encouraged me to run it again. Tsk, tsk…. :p
So much of it is mental! My biggest downfall at my miserable Tink half was entirely getting in my own head in a bad way. I really try to consciously focus on positive things during a hard run/race now and it has made a big difference. Thanks for linking up with us again today!
Easy – my triathlon last summer when I had the panic attack while swimming. I finished but I was literally sick for days. But I went on to do more during the summer and loved them so don’t let this panic you!
hahaha- i can’t help but laugh. the cursing and the hating of the medal. i definitely disliked the asheville race i did the summer, 3M in austin bc it’s where my hip really gave out, and rnr providence because my pacer couldn’t pace and it downpoured the entire time. so there, 3 for ya! 🙂
Ugh – that does sound miserable. I am giggling too about you hating the medal.
Inaugural Atlanta Marathon 2007. I failed to check the course out, and had no clue that the first half was constantly big rolling hills. (I know, I should have known Atlanta was hilly, whatever!). And it was warm and hot by the end. And they had failed to get Gatorade on the course and didn’t even have water until mile 7. I had my husband meet me around mile 18 and bring me the best tasting, cold Gatorade I’ve ever had in my life. Other runners were asking me where I got it. So, I similarly mentally checked out by mile 8 and was disgusted with the race. Our hotel was literally .25 from the finish, when I saw my husband there, I stopped and said I didn’t even care about crossing the finish line I was so PO’ed. He told me we drove all that way, I could see the finish, and to finish already. I did. I showered. We left. I don’t even know where the medal is 🙂
Oh no that race sounds rough! I’m trying to pick a first marathon to run, and this totally convinced me not to try for Chicago! I HATE heat and get sick so easily so I have to be careful what races I run. I live in Alaska so my training will be done in colder temps and I’m going to have to race in them too!
I cannot even imagine a marathon in the heat! 2007 was supposed to be my first full, but alas, injury struck. As I was cheering on other friends running, they all said how lucky I was to NOT be running Chicago that year.
Giving up mentally is definitely an issue I’ve had in the past. Once the positivity stops, it’s all over. This happened to me a lot as a teenager running cross country. One time I deliberately threw myself down a hill so I’d have an excuse to pull out, even though I wasn’t hurt. Definitely not my proudest moment! At least you finished Chicago!
I’ve given up mentally once and that was at last years MCM. I hit the wall which had never happened to me. While I still got a PR, it was the worst “experience” I had ever had at a race!
that sounds horrible! The heat is tough- that is why I trained all summer last year- I knew I needed to beat it! I have not had a race like that yet- but I am sure one is coming.
I’m with you on the heat! I am not a hot weather runner and I live in the land of perpetual summer! As a runner, I’m not a fan of SoCal– as a regular person I love it, but the heat is the worst. Maybe it’s my hot flashes that’s making it worse, but I can’t tolerate it. haha!