First 5k Race

Today I completed my first 5k race. I've run 5k a few times at the end of the Couch to 5k program and afterwards. I ran in a 4k race previously. All that put together made this 5k less stressful. I knew what to expect. I knew where to pin my number and how to handle the chute at the finish line. The C25k shirt from Zazzle worked well. It's some special material, like microfiber or something. The day was nice. Not too warm yet in the morning. Clear skies. Slight breeze. Couldn't ask for anything better.

I started off the first mile too fast. I was feeling good and even passing people. At one point, I got stuck behind a group that was running just a bit too slow for me. So, I had to figure out how to maneuver out of that. Interesting. The type of thing I don't have to worry about normally! I finished the first mile in under ten minutes, which is good for me. Then, during the second mile, I started doubting myself. I had to slow it down some because I wasn't sure I'd have enough juice left to get through the third. But, as I made my way into the third mile, I started telling myself: "Just one more mile!" and it worked. Earlier this summer it would have been hard to believe "just one more mile" would be a phrase that would actually motivate me rather than make me want to slow to a walk right then and there. I had run the course a few times before in practice, so I knew where the finish line would be. I made a bargain with myself that I could keep the slower pace until after the hill if I sped up after it. So, I did and then at about 0.2 miles left, I kicked it into a full fledged run.

Official time: 31 minutes and 32 seconds

I had hoped that somehow I would get superhuman strength and finish in under 30 minutes, knocking around 3 or 4 minutes off of my practice times. That didn't happen, but I did improve my time.

Overall, I was 68th out of some where around 90 runners. Not great, but ok. They didn't time all the walkers and I was WAY ahead of them, at least. The winner ran something a little over 17 minutes. As I passed the first mile marker at a little before 10 minutes, I figured we'd be seeing the first fast runners coming by. The course was an out-and-back with the exception that the turn around is a loop. A couple minutes past that first mile marker, I did see that 17 minute guy on his way back. Some of those fastest people didn't look like they were having much fun!