Sanibel F.I.S.H. 10K Recap

You’re probably thinking how in the world I can recap a race given my stress fracture and all. Since I was already registered for the FISH 10K before my injury, I decided that I would go anyway and volunteer. This was my first experience volunteering at a race and let me say that I have a whole new respect for all the volunteers who come out and work these events!

The day started out with Caleb’s Crusade, as my Saturdays always do now . Even though I couldn’t run, I didn’t want to miss the walking clinic they had set up for everyone. The walking coach, Jim, taught us a few warm up stretches to do and also taught us the proper walking form. He’s a supporter of the run/walk method aka the Galloway Method and was describing the benefits of incorporating walking into your long runs. This is definitely something I am going to consider. Since I started running, my goal in everything has been to “run without having to stop to walk” and I have gotten to where I feel like I “failed” if I walk any. I need to change that mindset. Walking intervals during long runs can help prevent injury (hello!) and improve race times. So, I definitely feel like I got something out of this “clinic” and look forward to incorporating more walking into my runs in the future. Here is a group shot of the Caleb’s Crusaders at the clinic yesterday morning:

Like my new boot? I’m so grateful to have this group of people in my life. Dana’s the one who knew someone who had a boot they weren’t using and said I could use it. Turns out that person is the president of the local running club I’m a member of and the owner of the running store here. I feel very blessed because without their generosity I would not have a boot to wear to protect my foot!

So, onto the race recap! I left the clinic and headed down to the Sanibel 10K. I got there and picked up my race bib, shirt, and timing chip for souvenir purposes only. (I like momentos, remember?) and went to the volunteer’s table to find out where I needed to go. I was going to be stationed at the turnaround between miles 4 and 5. This turnaround was at the end of a long, deserted, dirt road in the middle of nowhere.

One of the coordinators drove me to the spot (thankfully) and dropped me off so I was all alone. I saw a meter in the ditch, so I set my camera up on that to take a picture of myself. haha! I really do not like this picture because it shows my belly rolls, but after being inspired by all of the Exposure this week, I decided to post it anyway.

After about 10 minutes a couple showed up to help work the station with me and I was so glad I wasn’t going to be alone. They were great folks too, really friendly!

It was cool to watch the runners as they started coming by. I found myself just observing everything about them. Their form, their gear, their breathing – everything. From my own race experience, hearing the cheers and applause from the volunteers on the sidelines really helped me push through the finish line, so it was cool to be on the other side of that equation for once. I took lots of pictures as the runners passed by, but one struck out to me:

Apparently this couple had just ran the Boston Half-Marathon last weekend! Yay for lobster!

Anyway, it was a great experience. Everyone was so grateful to those of us offering to help. I guess I always knew that it took a lot of work to put races on, but never fully realized the extent of everything that happens behind the scenes. If you’ve never volunteered for a race before, I highly recommend it. I was afraid that I would go and get all jealous and sad seeing all the runners knowing I couldn’t run in it, but it had the opposite effect! I left inspired and empowered. So much that I came home and was finally able to update my “Future Races” page by taking the races off I can’t run due to my foot.

Well, they’re still on my schedule, but I’m going to volunteer at them instead.