4th Annual BD 5K. This was a good test to see 1) if my body could handle running at a hard effort, and 2) what shape I'm in. I have only been running for 3 months after a year off from running and surgery 9 months ago. It's been a very long, slow recovery but I'm taking it one day at a time. Anyway, my aim was 7:15 pace - this is a hard 5K course (two loops with 90ft hill), it was hot, and I have not run a single mile under 7:30.
I started out at what felt like a reasonable pace- the first mile is downhill and was 6:35. Ran up the hill feeling strong and splashed some water on myself at the halfway. Back downhill and hit the second mile at 6:50. Breathing got really heavy up the hill again but kept the pace consistent and mile 3 was 6:50. The course was probably 10 seconds short.
I was very happy with how I felt running. I had no abdominal or adductor pain at all. My heels hurt a little at the end, but no more than usual. I'm not in good enough shape to get that true 5k-hurts like h*ll feeling but I'm okay with that for now :)
This gave me a tiny glimpse of hope that I may be able to run fast again and compete. That's thinking really far ahead, but it is nice to have that hope back. For now, I'll keep trying to increase my miles slowly and get out in the mountains as much as possible!
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