10k race recap

“When you cross the finish line, no matter how slow or how fast, it will change your life forever.”

So here we are after my first race ever! I finished the 10km urban run race in Tel Aviv in 56min 44sec. I was the 625th from 1658 runners in my group and 47th of all the 217 women running in my group! :) Here is the whole story:

Pre race:

it was not the most lucky thing that the evening before the race we were invite to a wedding... On thursday I realised that it will be very hard and started to get nervous at work. But then excitment came and finally I could leave. On the way back home i bought some halva and dates for after the race and headed home to get ready for the wedding. I put on my dress, silver toms and some red lipsticks and felt amazing :) The wedding was nice - especcially to see some cousins. The music was terrible - we danced for 10 minutes. But I was very happy about the food: the starters/ antipasti was great: hummus with mushrooms, sweetpotato spread, salads, fresh bread, couscous all kind of nice stuff. There were two main courses served at the table with meat (way too much) and I was the only vegetarian at our table. I got tortellinis with potato filling and spinach pesto -which was really tasty and nutritious. (Perfect pre race food) The second main dish for me were mini spring rolls but I couldn't eat more... so I was only munching on some salad and that's it. Time was flying by and first time i looked at the time it was after eleven... I told to Sh. that we should really leave - so we missed all the tasty non diary desserts, but I was full anyway... Everytime we go out or to an event I am amazed how easy it is to eat out as a vegan in israel. Since most of the places are kosher, if we go to a restaurant (or event) which serves meat, I can be sure that everything I eat (which is not meat) will be without any milk products and also the desserts... stuff like ice cream, fresh fruits, chocolate mousse, all kind of cakes and tiramisu (all vegan) :)

After getting home and a quick shower I just jumped into bed and fall asleep very easy. All my stuff was prepaired the night before...

The Morning:

we woke up at 5:15 and everything went after plan, I had a small power breakfast (wholegrain musli, ricemilk, dates, tea), put the chips on the shoes and at 6:15 we left to Tel Aviv.

The parking we choose ahead was blocked, but we could find a place not so far ahead and we walked about 2 kms to the starting line...

it was like to be in some apocaliptic movie - all the people heading to the same direction on empty streets :) the good vibe started there already... we warmed up and soon we could enter the starting area. We headed to the 00:55 pacer and soon at 7:45 the race was starting for us.

The Race:

It took us a few hundred meters to find our pace. We started strong but not rushing ahead, still running with a good pace (faster than in my trainings ever). The first 3 kilometers flew by we enjoyed the runners flow. At km 3.5 I started to be thirsty and soon at the turning point (4km) we had the first water station. I threw half of the bottle on my face and drank 2 zips and continued... An uphill was coming up and we run next to an older man who told me: Great we are already at the half! Which was a great encouragement. This was the way back and I saw two couples running and holding a rope together and understood that one of them is blind. I was almost crying...I think this is amazing!!! We continued and pushed ourselves strong in the same pace, next waterstation and we were already after km 7... I felt that we run good, but my only goal was to finish under 1 hour... as we turned down to the street on the beach where the half marathoners were running in the lane next to us, I looked et my watch and it said 50 min. I couldn't be happier! I knew we have 1.5 kms left and even if we walk we will make it under an hour! :) There my belly started to play a rollercoaster, a smelly guy was pushing himself infront of me and I felt if i start to sprint I will throw up... Shlomi wanted to cheer me to push the end but I just continued in the same pace and we run the last few hundred meters to the finish line.

I forgot to push my watch so I didnt have the final time I knew it must be 56 or 57 minutes and I was so happy! I was busy clapping my hands above my head and later grabbing some water...

the best finish line photo ever :)- but at least you can spot Shlomi in the blue shirt and my clapping hands

We got our medal and stretched on the sidewalk. After that we walked back to the car in kind of runner high - at least me :) Shlomi had some blisters on his foot, I felt like flying (That´s where the first picture was taken)

before & after

proud 10k finisher

We ate some banana, dates and halva and drove home. After a great brunch Shlomi went to sleep and I went to ikea to buy some presents, i got an sms that i run 56:44... I was floating ... I even beat Shlomi with 1 sec :) hahaha :)

This is definitely the beginning of a beautiful friendship between me and running (racing) :) I am very thankful for all of my friends who was thinking on us and you should know it really pushed me forward! Thanks!!! I feel so blessed that I can run!