Shamrock Run 5k Race Recap

I didn't remember to take my camera so I didn't get ANY photos at the race, so I snapped a quick one of my race outfit when I got home.

 

 

 

I really love this skirt.

The weather felt a little cool to start with but I ran a 2.5 mile warmup and got warm so I knew I would be fine in that for the race.

I was a little nervous going into the race, I haven't raced since Thanksgiving day, which was a little while ago, so I wasn't sure how my legs would feel.  I also haven't done a lot of short race type speed work.  Mostly just a bunch of 800 intervals (I really need to branch out a little).

The gun went off and so of course did hundreds of Garmins beeping to announce they too were starting.  I love that sound for some reason.  We took off and I tried not to start to fast, but crap everyone else did, I looked down at my watch at about .20 miles in and saw I was doing 6:12 pace.  That wasn't going to work.

I slowed up a bit and reminded myself to run my own race and let everyone else run theirs.  I also reminded myself how much I love passing people who went out too fast later in the race as opposed to being the one getting passed because I went out too quick.

About that point was also the big hill which made it really easy to slow my pace a little.  I held steady around 7:10 pace after that.  I also started passing people who had started too fast around the half mile mark, man I love that.  I was feeling strong and awesome when my garmin beeped 1 mile at me. 

Mile 1 7:00 even  I felt good about this didn't seem too fast and I was feeling good

I reached the half way point and turned around (the course was an out and back) INTO THE WIND.  At this point my legs were starting to feel fatigued and it was a bit of a downer to know that I would be running into the wind all the way back.   At this point I was 5th girl.  There was a bit of a gap at this point between me and the next person up.

I STARTED GETTING PASSED!

I hate being passed.  Means other people are maintaining or finding a new gear or I am fading out.  Or all of the above.  When I got passed by two girls, I dug deep and managed to shift gears. to a faster one, thank goodness.

I kept up with the girls, one of who GASP, was wearing a tank that was CLEARLY not for running, biking or any other sport.  neither were her shorts.  Call me a running snob or whatever but this goes in the category of being beat by kids and really old people.  You just don't think it should happen!

Mile 2 6:58 Apparently despite feeling fatigued and running into the wind, I did alright.

At that point I started trying to remember why I like to run 5ks.  They are crazy, they hurt, you are pushing so hard the whole way.

My legs wanted to quit.  I started searching for mantras to pull me through. 

"This isn't supposed to feel good"  Great because it doesn't

"You love racing"  I do? Really, cuz this hurts!

"1 mile, you can do 1 more mile"  I can do one more mile

"You are tougher than this"  I am, crap I am being a damn wuss, I am not a wuss I am one Tough Chik!

Then my hand caught on my ipod cords and pulled them out of my ears, aack, that kept me distracted enough to forget about the pain for awhile and get me back on track.

Turned down the hill to the homestretch and heard the beep at three miles, but couldn't look.  Pushed as hard as I could through to the finish even though my legs felt like they were about to fall off and cry.  I wanted to puke, I wanted to rest, but more than anything I wanted to finish under 22 minutes.  I wanted to impress myself.

Crossed the finish line in 21:47.  Third mile was 6:56.  Don't know how I pulled that off, must have been the down hill and last .13 was in 52 seconds at 6:37 pace.  I came in 6th girl I think.

I was so happy to get across the finish line and have my pace for the race be 6:57!  Woot!  I was expecting more like 7:10 and hoping for 7:00.

Race 1 for 2012 DONE!

I didn't stick around for the awards, I will just have to wait till later this week to find out.

Did I mention I love 5k races!  So brutal, so intense and such a great way to get mentally and physically tougher. 

Yay also for my Pure Flows they were amazing to run the race in.