Long Beach Classic 5k (19:31)

Oh Long Beach Classic 5k…I have an interesting history with this one. The first year I ran a 20:39. I was bummed because I was hoping to be a lot faster than that. In 2024, it was the only 5k I broke 20 minutes in with a time of 19:56. I was so happy to do that and celebrate with a win.

This year, I ran a 19:31 after a very stressful Friday, which involved finding out I didn’t get a job I wanted and also finding out the cats need more dental surgery. I almost didn’t go down to Long Beach but ultimately decided it was what I needed.

Before the Long Beach Classic 5k:

I got to my hotel later than anticipated and fell asleep pretty hard/fast. Despite my hotel being right next to the runway, I slept well. But truth be told, with all the events the day before, I had cried…a lot. My eyes were swollen and puffy and desperately needed eye masks that morning. I am not someone who usually runs well emotionally charged (I know some people do, but that’s not usually me). I really focused on not thinking about the past because I would probably cry again.

I warmed up, and when I got to the Long Beach Classic 5k, there was zero line for the bathroom. It was 7:14, and I thought, AHH does the race start at 7:15? I was correct…it did start at 7:20, and I made it to the Long Beach Classic 5k race start with plenty of time to spare.

Long Beach Classic 5k Race:

At 7:20 we were off, and it was a really chaotic start. People were whizzing by me, and I thought, Wow I must be going slow. I didn’t let it affect me because honestly, I knew the week I had and told myself, Stress is stress. Then around half a mile in, I looked at my watch and we were going sub-6-minute pace. I thought to myself: What on earth am I doing? It felt hard, but not like Wow, this is the fastest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I was fourth or fifth female. We made a 90-degree turn and I hit the first mile in 6:07. It’s been a long time (and I mean LONG) since I ran a 6:07 mile. I told myself: Maybe today I can break 20 minutes.

Even running 6:07 pace and feeling somewhat comfortable, I didn’t believe I could break 20 minutes. I knew there was probably no way I could run three 6:07 miles, but I told myself, Run the race you are running. I had caught one woman, and one woman and I were running side by side. The next mile of the Long Beach Classic 5k had a 180-degree turn and a small hill. The woman I was running side by side with passed me.

I hit mile 2 of the Long Beach Classic 5k in 6:17, and I was happy with that. I told myself, Just keep holding on. And man, did that last mile hurt. It felt like I was running 7 minute pace and the road is not super smooth (because it’s a parking lot). I just pushed like I haven’t pushed in a while.

I ran the last mile in 6:27 and crossed in 19:31 as fourth woman.

Long Beach Classic 5k Thoughts:

Last year I won in 19:56, and this year I was fourth in 19:31…and I will take the fourth every time. I’m still a little bit shook that I ran a 19:31, a time I haven’t hit since March 2019…I didn’t know if I would ever see that time again. It gives me motivation that maybe I can run an 18:59 again. Or maybe faster. And I haven’t had hope for that in a very…and I mean very long time.

You can see Strava here and all race recaps here.

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Questions for you:

What is the flattest 5k you’ve run?

Would you rather win a race or run a faster time?