Last weekend I ran a local 5k. As I mentioned in my training log, the morning was a disaster, to say the least, but the problems were mostly my own doing. I hadn’t done a lot of research about the race and had thought it started at 8:30. At 7am, I looked up directions and realized it started at 8 am. I didn’t have time to run home and get to the race, so I had to race with random things in my car: oversized leggings, a spaceman puffer, and an old long sleeve. Never the less, my race outfit seemed to work out.
I usually like to do 3-4 miles warmup, however, due to being late, I only had time for 1. During my warmup, I felt awful. My stomach wasn’t ready to run and to be honest I contemplated why I was even there. After debating whether I should just donate my race entry fee and leave, I decided to just run. My goal for the next 2 months are solid workouts, and while my stomach was in knots, I could gut out a good workout.
After chatting with my good friend and fast runner Joe, we were off. I didn’t feel as bad once we got moving. My legs were tired. However, my stomach felt as though it would hold out. I ran with a pack of people for the first mile, and we hit the first mile in 6:08. I was happy, but also surprised. I didn’t feel as though as I was moving that quickly.
My goal for the next mile was just to stay with the pack. The race made several turns around the neighborhood, and I felt like I was sticking with them. We hit the second mile in 6:03 and I was feeling better.
The goal of the last mile of any 5k is to finish. It never feels good, and this one was no exception. I was just trying to grit through. To my (unpleasant) surprise the final part of the race went over grass. I felt as if I could break 19 again but the grass was not my friend. Not only that, but the last .2 made 3, right-hand turns. Not the fastest finish!
I crossed the finish in 19:02 which was exactly the same as the Medford Turkey Trot over Thanksgiving. I’m happy with my time. As I mentioned, the next two months are going to be dedicated to more workouts, and I’ll still run 5ks, but I won’t taper for many, if any. The plan is to get quality workouts in this winter to prepare for Spring races.
Questions for you:
Are you training for anything during the winter?
How much warm-up do you normally do for a race?
Heck of a race you did . It funny I was coming from straight from work ,this race was a last minute thing for me.i actually keep spare pair of running shoes, shorts,shirt, beaning hat and gloves. Just to be prepare..Lol
Normally if I am not tired all night from working I’ll run a 5k.
As for training the next 2 months. I wanna get back to sub 20 or 19. So lots of base runs and tempo runs. And let my knee heal some more.
You did great at the 5k
Happy running hollie..
Your throw together outfit definitely worked! So impressed that your awful run day is still flying… congrats!!