6 miles. Probably the distance I run the most in training, but the distance I race the least. Why? Because it’s so difficult to pace. Kind of like the marathon. I tend to start too fast and sputter out around mile 4.
I don’t race 5ks often. Not because I don’t like them. But because I don’t really consider myself fast. I would like to be, but it’s hard to be in 5k shape as well as marathon shape. The muscle fibers in your legs needed to be endured, as well as speedy are different. It isn’t impossible, just not something I’ve ever really worked at.
This weekend was a fun one. Not only was it a girls weekend away in Austin, but it was a great race weekend for me and Jessica, the friend I went away with. We raced 3M, a half I’ve PRd at twice before, and while I didn’t PR yesterday, I had a good race, and a race that was right in line with the 3 weeks of running I’d done prior to it (after the 3 week break I took before that).
I was sitting at the doctor’s office the Saturday before the half getting a rocephin shot, a kenalog shot and a prescription for a z-pack thinking why now? But I wasn’t going to let a sinus infection stand in the way of my desire to have a good half. I had had such a promising performance at That Dam Half with a 1:48 that a 1:45 didn’t seem that out of the question especially considering my 10 mile training runs have been consistently between 8:15-8:30.
But after my RRCA coaching course, there’s a few things I can take away from this race knowing “why” 1:45 didn’t happen and how I can get there next time. (and #1, I knew already) First, let me say, I had a decent, nothing to be ashamed about time of 1:53:15. (8:39/mile) Did I negative split, no … tsk, tsk, tsk.
Saturday morning, we dressed the kids warmly for a family race at the local high school. It was Carleigh’s 3rd 5K race and Parker’s first. With all the running Carleigh does at run club, I wasn’t worried about her finishing it, but we were definitely worried about Parker, since he’s only recently turned 4. So we brought the stroller as back up.
There was so much excitement in the air. The race raised money for the school district’s P.E. departments and so it was very concentrated with elementary aged children. There was a 1 mile and a 5K and over 4,000 participants this year! Over double last year’s number! Registration actually capped over a week ago.
