Opera Run 5K

This past Saturday, I participated in the Opera Run in Bozeman. The distance options were 10 Mile Race, 5K Race Run/Walk, and 1 Mile Kids Run. I did this race last year, too, and loved it, so again this year signed up for the 5K.

The Opera Run is to support the Bozeman Intermountain Opera company to build enthusiasm and buzz for their fall show each year. This year, they are doing an upcoming performance of the H.M.S. Pinfore in Bozeman in a few weeks. I love the poster for the show:


The best thing about the race is that they have costumed performers from their company singing opera songs along the race route. I realize that opera music may not be on most people's iPod "Running Jams Playlist," but I actually really enjoy opera music and find it to be really beautiful. Plus, the lung capacity those people have is dang impressive! On top of all that, this year and last year had kinda crummy weather for the race, so it is even more impressive that they stood outside during the race events, in full costume, in the rain/mist/sleet/cold, and SANG very difficult songs for several hours! Pretty cool.

As I mentioned, the morning of the race was cool and kind of misty with rain, which is not ideal. I had some concern that they might cancel the race, but they didn't. My friend Stephanie was still with me that morning, so she and I, and Harvey, checked in to the race at about 8:45 and I began to try to warm up with Harvey.

Last year, Harvey ran this race with me and together we ran a then-personal best time. This year, Harvey was having NONE of it! In fact, the past several times Jeff or I have tried to walk or run with Harvey using his harness, he has really protested. This time was probably the worst, though. I had him hooked up with his harness, collar, and leash, and tried to walk and do some jogging with him to get both of us warmed up before the race, and he just laid down on the ground. Would. Not. Budge. I tried a couple of times to get him excited and get him going, and we just never got there.

This photo is from last year's Opera Run.
Harvey and I had a great time!

Harvey never used to have issues running on his harness and really actually seemed to enjoy doing races with me, so I've been confused and saddened by his u-turn. All he seems to want to do is get back into the car. We have really been brainstorming why he has had a change of opinion regarding the harness. The major epiphany we have had is that the past several times he has worn his harness, prior to the Opera Run, there has been either thunder or fireworks in the area, both of which he is VERY afraid of. So, we're wondering if now he is associating his harness with the loud sounds of thunder and fireworks, and possibly even projecting that, "If I wear my harness, soon there will be scary thunder and/or fireworks!" and becoming preemptively scared. We are going to try a few things to turn this behavior around, if we can, because it used to be so enjoyable for all of us to do races with Harvey, and we really don't want him to be afraid every time we put on his harness.

Anyway, back to the race.

Any time I'm not in my own bed at home, I tend to have a lot of difficulty sleeping. The night before the race was particularly bad, unfortunately, so I was extremely tired preparing to line up for the start. I had kind of thrown my normal Good/Better/Best goals out the window, and just gave myself the new goal of Under-30 minutes.

About ten minutes before the start of the race, the race staff had everyone lined up in the chute. There was maybe about 50 participants, give or take. One of the Intermountain Opera Divas lead us all in singing the Star Spangled Banner before the gun-start. This was actually a really beautiful moment and my favorite part of the whole event. Something about coming together and singing with strangers, I don't know, but it was really cool. Or maybe I was just emotional from being so sleepy and the sadness of Harvey not running with me.

About to start the race, preparing to sing the Anthem.
If you can spot me, I'm impressed! Also, can you spot the Opera Singer?
Photo courtesy of Stennie. 

The race started, and I went out not as fast as I normally do, but just started right away at my pace. I passed several people early on, then it seemed like I had sort of established a position. I was familiar with the race course, so was trying to strategize when I could speed up, or when I could conserve.

At about the half-way point of the out-and-back course, I noticed that I was actually in second place out of the female runners. This actually gave me a little burst of surprise energy, and I surged for a minute or so, then paced. About this time, two other women must have also had a similar surge and passed me. Down to 4th place. Then, in the final quarter-mile or so (uphill!), one of them was very obviously overcome by stomach cramps, and I passed her going up the hill through the woods to solidify third place. There was no catching #1 or #2, but I still surged to the finish line, content with my 3rd place finish.

Overall, this race was not what I had hoped it would be or what I thought I had been training for, in terms of my personal performance. I ended up with a time that was two minutes slower than my PR, even though I had been training with the mindset of besting my PR at this race. The weather was not a major deterrent-- I had run in worse conditions-- but I think the lack of sleep really took toll on my performance. And, I was sad that my Vizsla running buddy was in the car instead of by my side. If I had run even one minute faster, I would have won the race. That's frustrating, but really, a third place finish is still pretty good. We'll try again next year!

I didn't stick around for the door prizes and awards, since it was MSU homecoming weekend and I had other activities planned. But, I do want to point out that this race has a really awesome T-shirt and slogan:

It Ain't Over 'Til the Fit Lady Sings!
They do the same shirt design every year, but change the accent colors.
I'm a sucker for cheesy or corny race t-shirts; this one definitely fits the bill!

Amazingly, after just checking the race website, they do have the results already posted. I finished 12th out of 72 runners overall, and can confirm that I was the 3rd place female runner out of 50 women. My official time was 28:17.

Then, while reading the Oiselle Blog, I read a great and timely post about cross country racing, which in my mind is very similar to road racing. Two pieces of advice felt like they were written specifically for me, specifically because I was sort of glum about my finish in the Opera Run. They are as follows:

Forget about PR’s and time goals, just compete. 
Cross-country courses might include grass, dirt, mud, stones, roots, creeks (to run through or jump over) and so much more. Your pace for road racing will definitely be different than your pace on a cross-country course. Concentrate on competing and completing more than running a certain time.

-- Jen Bigham, Oiselle Volee runner and marathoner. 

Because courses vary so much there is no chasing of PR's. Instead it's all about running hard, pushing yourself.

--Allie Bigelow, Oiselle Volee runner and Cross Country specialist

What's next in my racing world? Probably the Run for the Roses coming up in October in Bozeman. Right now, I'm undecided if I'll do the 5K or 10K distance. We'll keep you posted! Has anyone else out there done any fun races lately? Or anything fun fitness-related?