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March 29, 2008
Just A Short Run 5K
After some research I just figured out that I haven't run a 5K race since 2003. Umm...that was 5 years ago?! Hello! What the heck have I been doing the past 5 years? I guess mostly triathlons for the last 2 and then prior to that longer races such as half marathons and marathons. So I was really looking forward to doing this 5K, most likely because it has been so long since I had last run one and I had clearly forgotten how badly they hurt.
Good thing they don't hurt for long.
Regardless, I'm calling today's race a success. I had written down some time ago that my goal for today would be to run under 19:30. Then, several weeks after that as O and I were driving to the grocery store one night I decided that there was no reason that I shouldn't be able to run under 19 minutes. I mean come on! Granted I don't do near the amount of running or intensity of running that I used to but triathlon training has left me quite fit overall and I needed to start expecting a little more out of myself. So I declared my new goal to be "under 19".
Fast forward to today. Final time? 18:48. I'll take it! But next time the goal will be under 18:30 and then under 18:00. And then double that time, swim 1500 meters in 20-21 minutes first and bike 40K in 65 minutes second and add it altogether and then I'll be REALLY pleased. :) And although I joke about it, in all seriousness I believe I can do it. One step at a time and small improvements here and there. It will all add up one day!
My splits were 6:00, 6:20, 5:52 and :36. Now let me explain the course so that those splits make some sense (not). First mile is flat and then up a very long (somewhat steep) hill. Second mile is big downhill and flat and third mile is just plain flat. So that leaves me wondering if my watch didn't somehow play a trick on me and switch my first two mile splits. :) The race is pretty well established and has been around for quite a while so I don't think it's a case of misplaced mile markers. More likely is that I lost focus on that 2nd mile and when I saw my 2 mile split and started to panic that I wouldn't break 19, I pulled it together nicely in the last mile.
Regardless, I had a lot of fun this morning. It was great to really run hard and even though it felt super cold (no more than 25 degrees) it was at least sunny and dry! I did have a serious case of smoker's cough after I was done due to running hard in that cold weather, but hey, what can you do? Go to Florida for your next race - now THAT'S what you can do! :)
The only downside of the morning was my missing equipment manager/training partner/personal rival, also known as O. He had a track invitational to go to this morning so I was flying solo. It occured to me somewhere along the way that I don't think I've EVER gone to a race alone. Of course in high school and college I was always racing on a team and then after college I've always been married to O and he has pretty much come to all my races! I'm just glad it was only a running race and not a triathlon because I had major trouble just determining what to do with the car key let alone if I had a bike or wetsuit with me!
Other than the 5K there was a half marathon (really the big draw of the day) and a 30K (crazy people) so after a nice long cool down I watched the half marathoners finish. My cousin (actually she's O's cousin but I just call her my cousin too) ran a great first half marathon in 1:35! She was happy to be done! And I also saw the guys that I was up racing with in the 5K (the 5K, half marathon and 30K all started together) finish their half marathons looking great! I was "racing" them in my race, trying to pick them off and outsprint them when in reality they still had 10 miles to go as I crossed the finish line. :)
And then I came to another realization on the day, I suddenly no longer felt a part of the "running crowd" in this area anymore. Back in the day when I was just a runner I felt like I knew and talked to so many more people at races. And now not too many people look familiar. And I just "felt" like a triathlete out there running a race. I was the only one on the starting line with Lock Laces on their racing flats. :) But that's okay with me. Because it's unlikely that I will ever go back to being a full time runner and the quicker I make the transition to having the triathlete mentality the better. I'm not just a runner who is a bad swimmer and does a triathlon here and there anymore. I'm a triathlete!
So anyway, that was my day! I got some very nice awards (some prize money and a very nice New Balance running jacket) which I was surprised with given it's only a little 5K! And then I headed home. At which point I got a little antsy. Why you wonder? Well I didn't have any other workouts for the day! Almost always when I do a race (other than a tri of course) I have a bike workout later in the day. But not today for some reason. I felt a little lost.
And then I got over it really quickly. Thanks Coach!
I had a nice ice bath, hot shower, awesome stretch and did some odds and ends. And now I'm waiting for O to get home from his meet. I think I may just feel a nap coming on... Hope everyone has a great night!
Posted by beth at March 29, 2008 4:26 PM
Comments
Great job today on the 5K Beth. I've run that course before, and that first hill is a doozie!
Chad
Posted by: Chad at March 29, 2008 8:02 PM
WOO HOO BETH! SUPER job at your 5k today! Way to kick off the season in March! :) Jen H.
Posted by: Jennifer Harrison at March 29, 2008 8:29 PM
Beth,
Yeehaw! I just knew you were going to have a good day on some strong legs!
Taking your goal down from 19:30 to 19 flat in a 5k is huge, then ducking way under 19 is even more huge. You're in the realm of taking big chunks out now. I think if you had the time to go and do several more 5ks, you'd continue to take out big pieces of time.
Congrats again!
Meghan
Posted by: Meghan at March 29, 2008 9:16 PM
Hoorrraaaay! (Big smile on my face!) Way to go Beth - nice job today. I loved the quip about lock laces on your racing flats. You are truly a traithlete now... :) And that's a very good thing. Sorry that O couldn't be with you - makes the times you guys can be together all the more special.
And no second workout - WOW! An entire day to relax, recover, and have fun. Yippeeeee! Time to celebrate!
Posted by: marit c-l at March 29, 2008 9:24 PM
Yippee!!! I just know you are going to see some big rewards in your swimming this season, too. Sounds like you had a really great day, and I am wicked (Boston-speak) happy for you!!!
-Danielle
Posted by: Danielle at March 29, 2008 10:33 PM
you know what, i was just thinking the same thing about not being in the running crowd yesterday too. everyone in my running club is training for Boston, and they all wanted to know what race i have coming up. i don't have a single running race on the horizon! they all ran for 20 miles yesterday before volunteering and i had to leave volunteering early to bike home and then swim for 30 minutes!!
ANYWHOOO, i am so proud of you!! and i kind of like going to races by myself b/c i can totally just warm up and cool down and just do my own thing w/out worrying about anyone else having a good time (i have host anxiety!) congratulations on your speedy time for your first 5K in 5 years!!
Posted by: Audrey at March 30, 2008 7:59 AM
Great job, Beth! That's the exact same time I ran yesterday in the run of the sprint tri I did :) It wasn't quite 25 degrees here but it was close!
Posted by: Bri at March 30, 2008 9:17 AM
Beth, I know you don't like to brag, so I'll brag for you. Beth took 5th place OVERALL out of 399 runners, and that includes the men...which means she took 1st Female overall. Again, way to go!!!
http://www.runhigh.com/2008%20Results/2008%20Results%20A/R032908AB.html
Posted by: Chad at March 30, 2008 6:36 PM
Excellent 5K time!!! NIce job! Always set your goals high. You can do it when you work so hard. I too shifted from runner to triathlete. It's an interesting transition but I'm so glad to be here. Pretty fun to get cool prizes! :)
Posted by: ange at March 30, 2008 8:04 PM
Yikes Beth! That is fast! Way to PR! I'm so psyched to keep tabs on you this season.
Posted by: Ness at March 31, 2008 8:52 AM
wooooo whoooo 1st female... AWESOME race.... and i love the race name "Just A Short Run"
Posted by: Kranky C Dale at March 31, 2008 12:43 PM
Nice work Beth! I was "just" behind you in 6th place. Congratulations on the victory. I think the mile markers were a bit off, the splits that my GPS recorded definitely made sense (6:33/6:04/6:08).
Posted by: Niels Taatgen at March 31, 2008 5:02 PM