I hate 5K's, really, really hate 5K's. That being said, one of my goals for this year was to PR in a 5K. Here it is May and I hadn't signed up for one yet, so I started looking for one a few weeks ago and found one that looked good and very close. I made myself sign up right away, before I changed my mind. We had anticipated this being a very small race, but it ended up being 700+ runners. All week, I just kept telling myself just run as hard as you can and yes it will hurt....
I met Annette and Jay drove us, along with my daughter, down to the race. We picked up our chips, warmed up for just under 2 miles and then used the POP. We lined up close to the front but not too close. They started and I took off...again as in most local 5K's, people cannot line up correctly, lots and lots of weaving. Annette passed me right away and I just kept telling myself (that I stole from Kelli) "Comparison is the thief of Joy" and tried to just run. The first mile had some up, down, up and down and I passed people on the hills and felt good when mile 1 came in at 7:04. Mile 2 has a big down hill and I ran past several people, just told myself to use the down hill as much as I could and then hold on through the flat. We pulled out on the the flat section and it is protected from all the wind and the temps and humidity made it stifling and thick, thick air. 6:44 - thank you, down hill
Mile 3 started off good and I was holding on okay, but with .5 left, I was hanging on for dear life. I wasn't sure where the finish was and there were a few turns and I couldn't see the finish, but was hanging on....barely. 7:03 I am extremely pleased with the results, I was really just using this as a run to see what I could do and where I am in my training. Yes, this is an aided course and yes, I will still claim my PR, but I do wonder what the impact of 80 degrees and 75% humidity have on the time. My daughter ran her first 5K with very, very little training and finished in 36 mins. She is inspired to run another, which is great. Annette finished in 22:51 which is a PR for her as well. We ran 1.3 miles back to the start for the awards and then added on miles back the Y. This was brutal 90 degree temps and lots and lots of sun. Annette talked me into staying for the Body Attack class which was a lot of fun, but I was wiped out and I have no upper body strength.
| 