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September 19, 2004
The Jamba Juice 5k
I woke up this morning and it was actually raining. Sometimes we don't get rain in Northern California until December. The sounds and smells (of the rain) were definitely refreshing but the thought of running a 5k all the way in the city in the rain was not very motivating. The one thing that kept me on task however was the fact that I had to pick up some of my high school athletes at the school...to take them to the race... I couldn't call them up and cancel b/c of the rain...what kind of wimp would i be then?
Overall I felt like I had finally caught up on my sleep. On Saturday I got in a 3 hour nap...which felt great and I was able to sleep well last night. I definitely felt tired from the week's mileage though. In 6 days I ran 61+ miles not counting the pool running and x training....so I really had no idea where i'd be at for this race. I certainly wasn't peaking for this race...but i seldom taper too much for races these days since I tend to race often (i use races frequently to get myself into shape!!!).
i picked up the three high school athletes at 7:30 am and we made it into the city by 8 am...we found parking at Kezar stadium...right where the start of the race is....picked up our #s , went to the restroom and warmed up for about 1.2-1.3 miles. the entire time...my runners hit me up with tons of questions about the race...their curiousity and enthusiasm was exciting but also a tinie bit draining...usually before races i run really really slowly and i'm pretty quiet... but i always think back to my high school days and my coaches...who encouraged me on all the time and inspired me...plus being with the kids helps me keep everything in perspective (it's just a race...there are many more) and reminds me how fun the sport is...so in the end i was glad i had them with me...b/c it became both an outing and a race! we made one last stop at the car...to put our warm ups away...and then we hit the bathroom did some striders and made it to the starting line.
the starter took his time starting the race. the runners were getting a bit antsie. the starter/announcer kept saying Be Honest with yourself. If you are an 8 min/mile runner head to the 8 min/mile sign. many of my impala teammates were out for the race. i saw most of them on the starting line (usually i warm up with them...but since i had my athletes with me...i didn't join them this time for our usual warm up) our impala team was loaded. i knew at the starting line..that 10 of us on our team alone had the potential of running sub 19...this would be a Fast race!!!
(the course went into golden gate park and then did a hair pin turn and ran down fell street back up oak street and then into kezar stadium...this is a different course than the past three years...they are doing major reconstruction work in the park ....so a course change was needed--the course is 99% on the roads...and the last .1 is on the track)
the gun finally went off...and the runners were off. this race ALWAYS goes out fast...i tried to hold myself back...i felt like i was but i still hit the mile mark at ~5:49... by this point the rain had stopped, the roads were still wet, but the sun was shining brightly and burning down on us...i actually felt a bit warm...even with my racing singlets and shorts on... i wanted to run the 2nd mile in 6 minute pace...and amazingly i did just that...approaching the 2 mile mark the course starts to head uphill slightly...so that actually helped me...the final mile is a slight slight climb and then the race finishes in kezar stadium...right on the track...it's a fun fast 100 m. finish. i felt like potentially i could have caught a few (up to 5) women in front of me the last mile...i passed 2 women...none passed me...but my last mile...was 6:14...ouch...so not too good...i finished in 18:45. that's kind of what i predicted for myself. I was the 6th women on my team...! our team is soooo good..i have to get out to more workouts with them...i think that'll help me a bit with my speed... one of the high school guys i coach ran a pr and ran 17:56...he was really happy...he went out hard and held on (similar to me) , one of the girls i coach...a freshman ran 19:31....(she ran a more even paced race) and the third girl i coach...was having some hip trouble..and turned around after a mile...she cheered us on at the finish line.
somebody said the woman who won the race ran sub 16...! that's smokin! two of my teammates ran sub 18....!!! the competition is just so good. the results will be posted later on today...maybe i'll put a link to the results up on my blog when they are posted...
all in all i'm glad i made it into the city for the race. at least now i know where i'm at...and it was fun...and on the way home...the high school runners and i chatted the entire way...everyone kind of had a runner's high...the satisfaction of a feat accomplished i guess...
my next race will be in two weeks...the folsom 5k ...a xc course. i'm going to actually taper a bit for that one...and then the following week i'm running the humboldt 1/2 marathon...!
more later...
Posted by liz at September 19, 2004 10:59 AM
Comments
Liz, Great update! I am going to stop being a slacker and update my blog. You have been so diligent in keeping up with yours. The 5k race effort sounds good. I am curious to see how you will do in the cross country race once you taper! Hope the rest of your weekend goes well. Good strides,
Posted by: Mary at September 19, 2004 12:25 PM
Sounds like an excellent race, for not only yourself but your HS athletes as well. Congrats!
Posted by: Beth at September 19, 2004 01:13 PM
Liz,
Good job in your race...I sense a half-marathon PR coming down
Blondie
Posted by: Blondie at September 19, 2004 03:41 PM
Hey, great job! So did you get any fruity prizes? Meghan
Posted by: Meghan at September 19, 2004 08:02 PM
everyone got jamba juice at the end of the race...plus in the goody bag they had blueberry kiss chapstick...kind of fun! :)
Posted by: liz at September 19, 2004 09:32 PM