Race #213
5k #63
2023 Race #10
2023 5k #4
RWBS 5k #10

I went into this race planking to run fast but not as fast as a hard 5k effort like last year, remembering the toll that heat and humidity take on me. 

I also planned to run with Mom but soon after we started she fell behind. 

Speaking of the start, it was a mess, like I expected. These starts are always congested so I try to get as close to the front as I can and stay alert so I can avoid any collisions. 

I almost ended up in one anyway when a very tall gentleman wove back and forth around so many runners, coming incredibly close on not only my heels but also the heels of several people near me. 

After a little under half a mile, the congestion cleared enough to open up the stride a little even though it never completely disappeared. 

When the first split came, I loved that it came in a little under an 8 minute pace. 

Mile 1 – 7:54

Like too many other races in recent months, I did not start writing this recap until a couple weeks later so a lot of the mile by mile details did not stick around. I will write what remains though. 

The only thing I remember from the second mile is getting a little frustrated on the backside of the lake when several people including several older kids/tweens took up the entire path preventing me from passing them for quite a while and slowing my pace a little. 

Then my second mile split came and I discovered that I maintained the same pace as the first somehow. 

Mile 2 – 7:55

As we rounded the corner on the lake, I knew I had the only significant hill ahead. This hill usually feels like it spells death especially when you’re trying to sprint up in July’s heat and humidity. 

I passed quite a few people on the hill. Even though I didn’t feel great, I felt much better than I expected. I figured that my pace had slowed a bit but since I was running on effort I didn’t mind. 

It is really difficult to keep going through this last half mile down the “mall” portion of the campus, flat and open where it feels like you never get closer. 

Finally we made the turn around the round about and then right towards the back of the stadium. 

I didn’t plan to put on a sprint when we entered the stadium but I saw another woman just steps ahead of me and my competitive juice kicked in and I tried. She had more of a kick though making short work of my attempted pass. 

Mile 3 – 7:56

Overall – 24:49

Would you look at those nearly perfectly even splits?!

Even though this is one of my slower RWBS 5k, I’m really pleased with my efforts.