Race #126
5k #46
2017 Race #10
2017 5k #3
Covenant Race for Adoption 5k #4

I had a lot of fun at this race. This course challenges me every time yet I keep coming back.

Before the race today I decided that I wanted to run hard. I knew that would not be close to a PR since I have been training for a half marathon PR rather than short speed. However, I knew that I would be able to run well, better than last year at the very least. I also kept in mind the fact that my goal race is next week and that I would be running 70 minute after the race to complete the run for the day. (I have a racing problem.)

We arrived with plenty of time before the race. I opted not to run a warm up but since I am working on becoming a smarter runner, realized that I should not attempt to go from 0 to 60 in a second. While we waited I added in some high knee sprints to warm up.

When it came time to line up I stationed myself on the very front. There is no official start line, just an indication that the last cone marks the spot for the start line. To my left was a gaggle of kids. Thankfully, I did not have another near trampling incident in this race. Mom lined up behind me; she finished strong as well!

As I started, many people surged around me. Instead of sprinting to keep up with everyone, I held as steady as I could. This first mile lends itself to an overeager expenditure of energy which can come back to haunt you in the last mile.

Although I avoided any collisions with children, a full grown man failed to check his surroundings and moved to the right, immediately in front of me, so close that my knee made contact with some part of his leg. I made some sort of surprised noise, completely taken aback. He said nothing, just kept running. The thing that I simply cannot understand about this is the fact that I run with music and no headphones. If one pays attention, one can always hear me coming.

After the small dust up, I settled into that first mile and could see four girls ahead of me. One of them took off at an impressive pace and never let up. I would be surprised if she was older than 14 years old. The other three ran strong but I could tell that I was getting close. Just before the end of the first mile I managed to pass them.

Mile 1: 6:39

That is my fastest mile in a race although I would put an asterisk by it since the downhill grade is significant. I am pleased however with how relatively easy it felt. Obviously, it did not really feel easy but it did not feel like a full out sprint for the entire mile either.

As I headed into the second mile I thought back to an article in Runner’s World that I read yesterday about racing a competitive 5k. The thing that stuck out in my mind at that point was that 5ks hurt. There was more but eloquent thinking is not my forte during a race, especially in a 5k.

Through the second mile several guys passed me but no females. I knew that the uphills were coming and wondered if I could keep up the pace. Around this time a guy pushing a stroller – mad props – passed me. We made a turn just before the halfway point in the race and I heard him say, “another downhill, yes!” I laughed and made sure to tell him that the entire second half is uphill. He said something like “bring it on!”

After that exchange I remember thinking that I was not expending full effort if I was able to easily say an entire sentence. I tried to pick up the pace a little.

A short uphill helped us finish the second mile.

Mile 2: 7:10

I hazarded a couple glances behind me to see how much distance I had put between myself and the other girls. All I could tell was that they were not really close. I did not want to lose my second place spot. Maybe I would finally be able to break my third place female rut in this race. The first place female stayed way out front from the start.

I could feel the uphills of the third mile take their toll. Unlike previous years, I did not feel like death warmed over on these hills. I didn’t feel great, just better than I have before. I wanted that second place finish and I wanted to finish well. I kept telling myself that I was a “hill killer.”

Within the last half mile it was getting truly hard. I resorted to a form of counting my steps that would take far too long to explain. I just wanted something to keep my mind occupied so that I could finally get to that finish line.

We made the final turn in the subdivision. I heard a spectator tell a runner behind me that she was doing a great job and was in third place. I did not know who this runner was but knew that another female was close on my heels. I could not let up if I wanted that second place spot.

Unfortunately, for some reason we could not continue to run on the road. We had to run on the sidewalk which I was not happy about, especially with three people close enough in front of me to prove to be an obstacle in case of a sprint including the guy pushing the stroller. If I got close to him, passing him would be next to impossible.

Then I saw her. She came up on my right.

No! I would not lose second place so close to the finish line. I started to push the pace even further.

The guy pushing the stroller saw me out of the corner of his eye and poured on the sprint as well. He appears to be just as competitive as I am. I wanted to tell him that I could care less if I passed him; I just wanted to hold on to second place.

(That’s her in the background.)

We turned off the sidewalk onto the road and then towards the finish. She was hot on my heels.

In the end, she had a clear path to the finish. I did not. I had to slow down just enough to get around another runner right before the line that when I looked over she was a step and a half in front of me.

Third place, again.

Mile 3: 7:26
.1: 6:17

I seem to be stuck in a rut when it comes to 5ks. With the exception of my PR back in 2014 at Red, White, and Blue Shoes, my 5ks have stayed in the 22:20 range. Seriously. Including today’s race, I have 10 5k results within the 11 seconds between 22:19 and 22:30. That is the very definition of a plateau. My problem is that I love all the distances, especially the long ones and am too ADD to narrow my focus to just the 5k. I will conquer this.

Mom finished well too!