Want to race all of NYC? Check out this Bronx 10-Mile Race Recap and add this one to your race bucket list!
All year, I’ve had one big running goal: to complete New York Road Runners’ 9+1 program. Well, my fit & focused friends, as of last Sunday, I did it! That means I’m in for the 2016 NYC Marathon! EEK!!
My 9th and final race was the Bronx 10-Miler. I’ve been training for the Philadelphia Marathon and the Dopey Challenge, so 10 miles was no big thing. In fact, I had 15-miles on the calendar that day, so I woke up super early to get 5 miles in before the race even started. Here’s how it all went down:
5am – Wake up time! I got up and snuck out the bedroom so as not to wake Will. I headed into the bathroom for pit stop #1, brushed my teeth, got dressed, made some Peach Almond Vanilla Hot Oats from Love Grown Foods (so good!) to go, and headed to the subway. I also made the last minute decision to grab a light jacket. Best decision ever considering it was chilly before the sun was up and the D train was blasting air conditioning as though the MTA has a use it or lose it air policy before the winter hits.
6:30am – Arrive in the Bronx. I can probably count on one hand how many times I’ve been to the Bronx, and they’ve probably all been to go to Yankee Stadium. Luckily, a bunch of other people that looked like runners got off the Subway at the same stop, so I just followed the herd (#follower #moo). Like all NYRR races, everything was very well organized. There was a volunteer RIGHT outside of the subway exit directing everyone where to go. I made pit stop #2 at the porta potties and then hit the ground running to get my 5 pre-race miles in. I was nervous about running in an area I didn’t know so early in the morning, but then I realized the race was already set up (duh, Nicole) so I could just run a few miles on the closed off course. Plus, turns out a bunch of other people (I’m looking at you NYC Marathon trainees) had to get in some longer mileage that day, so I wasn’t alone in my craziness.
7:30am – Finished up my 5-miles and arrived back to a super crowded Race-Day Central area. I got in line for pit stop #3 and, now that I was all warmed up, rushed over to bag check to drop off my jacket.
7:45am – I downed my favorite Probar organic energy chews, snuggled into my corral and found my pacer. This was my first attempt ever at running with pacer, but it being my last NYRR race of the year, I wanted to try something new. I decided to attempt to stick with the 1:25 pacer, which would mean keeping an 8:30 pace.
8:00am – We’re off (well, my corral crossed the start line at around 8:03 if you want to be exact about it). Like any race, the course was pretty crowded for the first half mile or so. I did a lot of dodging and weaving and started getting stressed about keeping up with the pacer when so many people were in my bubble. The road conditions at the beginning of the race were also pretty terrible. There were potholes and uneven patches of pavement all over the place. A few runners tripped, some fell (eek!) and many an iPhone were dropped in the craziness. I hope they fix that part of the course for next year! Anywho, I quickly decided to just keep the pacer in my sites for the first mile until I was able to find my own space.
I’ll let time specifics go here as I take you through the rest of the race:
I hit mile 1 8 minutes and 28 seconds in. Sweet! On point.
At mile two, a girl pulled in front of me. I call her The Spitter. You see, she grabbed a cup of Gatorade from the fuel station (there was water and Gatorade at every mile!), took a few sips and tossed it aside. Then, she spit. Ok, I’ve seen runners spit. I’ve spit myself a few times. Then she spit again. And again. She didn’t even pull over to the side of the course to spit into the road. Nope. She was in the middle, just spitting without any regard to the runners around her. You know us humans were build with the ability to swallow for a reason? Get away Spitter! I sped up a bit to get her out of the path of her saliva.
Right before mile 3.5, the elite runners passed us on their way back to the start/finish line. One of my favorite things about out-and-back courses is being able to see the elites! Not going to lie, I was pretty jealous they were already on mile 7 when I had 7 more to go!
All was going well until mile 6. My pacer was just a few steps ahead of me, I was feeling good and then suddenly. BONK! I got hit with a wave of exhaustion. My feet were sore, my legs felt heavy and I felt like I was significantly slowing down. What the heck? Then I realized I hadn’t eaten my energy chews! I usually have chews every 5 miles. I downed those babies and kept on truckin’.
I started feeling a bit better around mile 7.5. Less than a 5k to go. I got this! Then, she was back. The Spitter. She cut right in front of me and… she was still spitting! Are you part llama? I wanted to pull ahead of her again, but I just didn’t have it in me. You win this time, Spitter… this time…
Due to bonk moment at mile 6, by mile 8, my pacer had pulled way ahead of me. I could still her little pace sign bouncing around up ahead if I squinted really hard, but hopes of a 1:25 were shot. I was, however, still keeping a fast pace for me, so I wasn’t too discouraged. In fact, I crossed the finish line in 1:26:14, which was an 8:38 pace, and an automatic PR since this was my first 10-mile race! Not so far off from my pacer, after all!
I got my medal and a bottle of water, and then pulled off to the side for some stretches and the obligatory post-race selfies. Then it was off to get my jacket back from bag check and make the trek back to Brooklyn.
Overall, this race was pretty awesome. The weather could not have been better. The course had some good rolling hills that made it interesting without being too easy or overly challenging, and it was nice to explore a bit more of the Bronx. I do think the roads need to be fixed up at the start of the race and I want to call more Bronxians (Bronxinites? Bronxters?) to come out to support the race next year. There really wasn’t a lot of crowd support until the finishing shoot. Runners feast off the energy of a good crowd and funny signs, so come all ye’ Bronxinistas! Come with ye signs and ye shouts and cheer on thoust runners (clearly, I never got that into Shakespeare).
Thank you NYRR for another great race and a great way to get into the NYC Marathon! 2016, here I come!
You can find recaps from all my other NYRR races below:
Gridiron 4-Miler
Scotland Run 10K
Run for the Parks 4-Miler
MORE/FITNESS/SHAPE Half Marathon
UAE Healthy Kidney 10K
Queens 10K
R-U-N 5K
This post is linked up with Tuesdays on the Run.
Let’s Chat:
Have you ever tacked extra miles on pre-race?
What’s the deal with all the spitting?
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Yay for a great race! I’ve never run miles before a race before– good for you! Talk about getting it done!
Julie @ Running in a Skirt recently posted…Crock Pot Roasted Butternut Squash Soup
Thanks, Julie!
I’ve never done a race in NY definitely on my list and I really like the 10 mile distance.
Deborah @ Confessions of a Mother Runner recently posted…Southwestern Spaghetti Squash Boats
Come visit and we’ll do one 🙂
First of all, CONGRATS! YAY for all your hard work and entry into the NYCM! Second, EW to the spitter, what the heck? and Third, I NEED that tank…where’d you get it? Haha.
Annmarie recently posted…Black Forest Isopure Recovery Smoothie
WEEE Thank you!!! The tank I won at a blogger event but you can find all their stuff here: http://shop.xracewear.com/Womens_c38.htm It’s awesome!
Great job! Thats so weird about “the spitter”. I think I’ve seen something crazy at every race I’ve done this year. Runners always amaze me!
Kimberly recently posted…Double Race Weekend: St. Jude 5K and NYRR Bronx 10 Mile Race Recaps!
It’s part of the fun of racing I suppose 🙂
Congratulations on finishing your 10 miler. I have always wanted to do a race in Nyc. Looks like you had great weather for it.
lacey@fairytalesandfitness recently posted…I’m sorry if my running annoys you
Thank you! Yes the weather was perfect. Come visit and we’ll do a race together 🙂
Congrats on your race! I’ve tried running with a pacer and failed miserably. I would have killed that Spitter, how gross and rude! It must be a relief to be locked in for the 2016 NYC Marathon…that will definitely be an amazing experience!
Janelle @ Run With No Regrets recently posted…Guest Post – Half Marathon Training With a Vitamin Deficiency
I can’t wait!!!!
Congratulations on a PR! You did a great time and even a bigger victory…you didn’t let the spitter put you off! So gross 😉
Fiona recently posted…Eating the Dublin Marathon
haha thanks, Fiona!
What the heck, spitter?!
That sounds like such a fun race.
Also, what is that on your shirt?! Does it come with a built in bib holder?! Do tell!!
Ange @ Cowgirl Runs recently posted…Marathon Decisions
YES! It’s my go-to race shirt! It’s from this company: http://shop.xracewear.com/Womens_c38.htm
Your rock, Nicole!!! I’m glad the weather was nice, too. I’m coming to NY to run a race one of these days!
Artney @ My Pretty Brown Fit recently posted…Zoodles with Tomato Cream Sauce
Yes!! come!! I’ll run with you 🙂
Great job! I bet it feels good to have a low-pressure race done- When you are training past 10miles already for the marathon, I mean that you know that you are ready for the race. Different than the marathon, where you rarely run farther than the race distance. I am sososo impressed that you are going to do the Dopey Challenge- best of luck to you!
Barrie recently posted…The Bad Run: First Half of the Story
It feels so great! Thank you for all the good wishes!
You ran a great race, especially given that you ran 5 miles before the start of the race. And that Spitter, well, maybe she is part llama?!?
Kathryn @ Dancing to Running recently posted…2015 Dulles Day 5k on the Runway Recap
haha I think she must be!
Seriously dying to do a race in NYC!! I love 10 milers too, maybe I’ll have to check this one out next year! Great job on the PR!
Sue @ This Mama Runs for Cupcakes recently posted…MCM Training REcap–Week 12 & #BOSUChallenge Week 3
Come do a race here! We can get a good group and do a big blogger racing bash!
Spitting is so gross! Also, I have no idea how to spit LOL!
I would love to race in NY. The opportunity just hasn’t presented itself yet.
Jenn recently posted…race report: rock ‘n’ roll virginia beach half marathon
Right?! I feel like if I tried to spit, I’d just dribble all down my chin haha. I hope you can do a race in NYC soon!
Congrats on your NYCM 1016 entry! Sounds like you’ve had a lot of fun on the journey too!
Wendy@Taking the Long Way Home recently posted…Run Now Beer Later in Seattle
Thank you!!!
Oh this looks awesome and I think I would really like a 10 miler! Great job! And how exciting to be a part of the 2016 NYC Marathon! I can’t wait to read about your journey. I am not sure I will ever do another full marathon but I sure do like reading everyone else’s journey to the full.
Hollie recently posted…Pre Running Fuel: Creamy Oatmeal
I’m so excited! Thank you!
I have always wanted to run a race in NYC but nothing over a half marathon. This race distance seems perfect!
There are lots of races here that are 13.1 or shorter. Come visit and we’ll do one!
congrats to you!! So you are one of those crazy people that runs before the run? 🙂 I feel they same way about crowd support, come on folks come outside- we don’t bite! Now that spitter, I have no words for that 🙁
Mary Beth Jackson recently posted…Passionate or just crazy?
haha yep, that’s me!
Great review Nicole! What’s up with the spitter lady?! Ewwww – so gross and inappropriate. I wonder what people are thinking sometimes!
Congrats on a great race and entry into NYC for 2016 – hooray!!!
Hopefully they will fix the roads for next year – the entry fee should pay for some of that..
Nice job!!!
Natalie recently posted…Weekend Update! First 5 mile run and other fun tales!
right?! What the heck, Spitter?!
Great recap and congrats on an automatic PR! You finished with a great time!
Sharon recently posted…Beat The Blerch Half Marathon Race Recap – Morristown, NJ 9/26/15
Woo! Thank you!