Finally! Sub-20! (barely). I am excited about my time, but know I could've done better if I hadn't slacked in the second mile. Anyways, on to the report. Woke up at 5:00am, had half a cup off coffee, got dressed, got in the care and made the one hour drive to Cheney. Drank water and ate a banana on the way. Got there, registered, walked around a bit, and then ran the course in reverse very slow(10:00 pace.) It was super hot and humid and I was drenched after the warm-up but I have gotten used to being icky hot and it really wasn't bothering me much. My husband and three youngest kids came to cheer me on! Mile 1: 6:17--Feel pretty good, definitely working but not in trouble. Have settled into second place and 1st place is already way ahead--this girl is out of my league and I will not be able to catch her.
Mile 2: 6:45--I hear the guy call the split(13:02) and realize I have gotten way too comfortable in the second mile. Shoot! I was napping! Why do I always do this in the second mile? I am truthfully more comfortable than I should be at this point in a 5k. I kick it up a gear--I can still get sub-20 but it's going to be work. Mile 3: 6:29--As I turn down the last straightway I am picking up more and more steam. As I cross the 3 mile mark I am already unfolding into my kick. They actually have someone calling the 3 mile split. 19:31. I have 29 seconds to get to the finish line. I kick with more urgency than I think I ever have before. Up on my toes, eyeballs bulging, crazy face, terminator arms, making my body go as fast as it possibly can. .1/28 seconds, 4:40 pace. My watch reads 19:58 but official time is 19:59 so I'll go with that. In retrospect, I need to learn to push harder in the middle of a 5k. This is my weak spot where I lose time, and it seems to be a pattern. I am, however, happy with my kick. I would like to learn to kick longer at the same speed. I cooled down, drank some water and gatorade, jogged a mile, then strapped Vanessa into the stroller for the one mile. Part of the mile was on gravel and dirt with potholes and poor Vanessa was bouncing around like crazy! She started talking about the barking doggy so obviously it didn't bother her. I careened around corners with the stroller on two wheels and ran on the outside so I wouldn't plow people over. We finished in 6:48, good enough for second place! I was just happy to break 7:00 with a stroller(that was my goal). Overall a good workout today. I can already feel it in my legs--I will be sore. Next long-term goal is to break 19:00 in the 5k. I know this will take a long time and will not happen right away, but I think it is possible.
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