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After finishing my first 5K back in October 2024, I felt ecstatic—hooked on the race-day buzz and ready to start collecting medals. So instead of doing another 5K, I decided to challenge myself and signed up for The Great Pie Run 10K in Houston, TX.
The course was flat and somewhat scenic, winding along the bayou. The race took place the Saturday before Thanksgiving, and yes—they hand out a pie at the finish line! Pretty cool, right? Although, I was a little surprised (and slightly disappointed) to see it was a mini 4” pie instead of a full-sized one. But honestly, probably for the best!
I took a day or two off from running after my 5K but quickly jumped back in, focusing on building endurance. According to my Garmin stats, I logged 43.6 miles in November—about 10.2 miles per week.
With a 5K under my belt, I felt more confident and had a better idea of what to expect. My only real concern? Chafing. So, I wore the exact same outfit I raced in for the 5K—right down to the socks.
The week leading up to the race, I tapered my training and did a bit of carb-loading. Unfortunately, I couldn’t pick up my race packet due to work.
The night before the race is where I made a rookie mistake. We went into town to hang out. While I avoided alcohol, we didn’t get home until 2:00 AM. With a 5:15 AM departure to make it to the sold-out race on time, I got maybe 2.5 to 3 hours of sleep. Not ideal. But I figured—if I can stay up late, I can wake up early and run, right?
Once we arrived at the park, we warmed up with dynamic stretches, hit the restroom again, and jogged about a tenth of a mile to get our legs ready. The vibe was relaxed and fun—lots of people running in groups, some dressed in Thanksgiving-themed costumes. Music was blasting, and the DJ was doing a great job getting everyone pumped.
When it was time to line up, I realized there were no pacers or corral groups—everyone started together. When the starting gun went off, I found myself weaving around runners for the first half-mile until things opened up.
With little sleep, I wasn’t sure how I’d do. My original goal was to finish as close to the 1-hour mark as possible. After the previous night’s shenanigans, I would’ve been happy just to cross the finish line.
Unlike my 5K, I needed hydration this time. Aid stations were spaced about every 1.5 miles and offered water and sports drinks like Gatorade. I alternated between the two, which worked well. Around mile 4, I took a BPN Go Gel Apple Cinnamon energy gel I’d brought. It had a smooth, applesauce-like consistency and didn’t require water—way better than some of the thick, overly sweet gels I’d tried before. Ever since then, BPN gels have been my go-to.
That little boost gave me the energy I needed to finish strong. I crossed the finish line with an official time of 1:01:56—a personal record I’m proud of! I immediately grabbed my medal (still my favorite one) and of course, my mini pie.
What I Learned from My First 10K
This race taught me a few valuable lessons:
- Training and recovery matter. Not just for performance—but for how you feel afterward.
- Sleep is crucial. A good night’s rest can make or break race day.
- Plan ahead. Picking up your packet on time saves stress.
- Gear matters. Stick to what you know works—especially on race day.
Can someone finish a 10K without training? Sure, it’s possible. But you’re risking injury, burnout, and probably not having a great time. When you train, don’t just train to finish—train so you can feel good afterward and fully enjoy the accomplishment.
If you’re a beginner thinking about your first 10K, I say go for it—but give yourself the time to prepare. You’ll thank yourself when you cross that finish line feeling strong and smiling.
