I hadn’t planned to run the Surf City 5k but a couple weeks prior, I decided I wanted a shake out race. I raced once since California Internatioanl Marahton and it was a low key local race. I wanted something to really shake off the cob webs. Plus, I’ve just been busy and tired and needed an excuse to leave the desert. I’m glad I did.
Before the Surf City 5k:
I got to Huntington Beach somewhat early, spent some time reading on the beach and picked up my packet. I probably walked way too much along the beach and that definetly contributed to just feeling flat on the day. Between running and walking, I put over 13 miles on my legs. Surf City 5k wasn’t a goal rce, the only goal was to shake off some dust. I could have done myself more favors though.
I didn’t get th best nights sleep before. I didn’t find my hotel bed especially comfortable and I tossed and turned. Luckily the 8:10 am start allowed me to sleep in somewhat. It was weird not heading there until around 7. I parked about 2 miles from the start, jogged down, met up with Jessica, and we jogged a bit more.
We actually almost missed the Surf City 5k race start (we still had about 3-4 minutes) because we were jogging. She said her goal was sub 20. I thought that was a good goal for me on a good day, but my whole body just felt flat.
Surf City 5k Race:
When the gun went off, we were off. I could tell immediately, my body did not feel good. I felt like I was running through quick sand but I thought maybe after a couple miles I will loosen up. It felt like I was sprinting. Over the last month, I’ve really focused on faster and higher quality runs while running on the treadmill. I’ve run 6 minute pace without it feeling challenging. Even 6:20 felt hard. I hit the first mile of Surf City 5k in 6:22 and I knew my body was not going to be able to hold that.
I had passed a few people and some people passed me. It was a simple out and back course with minor elevation. Mile 2 felt rough and I ran a 6:49 but I felt like I was going much slower. My body felt like a stiff tin man and it didn’t feel smooth at all.
During the last mile of Surf City 5k, I desperately wanted to stay under 7 minutes per mile. I forced myself to pick up my legs but every stride felt like I was negociating with myuself. I was counting down. Just 6 more minutes. Then 5, then 4. A man called out to the young girl next to me: pass that girl! It kind of motivated me to pick up my feet to the end.
I crossed the Surf City 5k in 20:31 and as 7th woman overall. It was slightly short (about .02) so it would have likely been around 20:40. Which around the halfway point I wasn’t sure I would run under 21.
Surf City 5k Thoughts:
Whiole I would have liked to be under 20 and I know I am capable of it, I also know my body did not feel good on the day but that was the point of the race, get those cobwebs out. It was what I needed on the day and a perfect escape from the desert.