Race Recap: The Big Run 5k

Matt and I at the starting line. 

For Global Running  Day, one of the local running stores partnered with Brooks do a huge event. Last year, it was a group run. This year, it was a free 5k and 350 people preregistered and a few more people showed up day-of.

I was floored by the interest in the event. So many people pre-registered and coming to the event. On a Wednesday evening. It was awesome. Brooks was there. As was Nuun. And there were popsicles after the race (yay!) already paid for. (Thanks Fleet Feet and Brooks).

My running group, also had a potluck afterwards.

The race
Originally, I had wanted this race to be a rust buster. I wanted to see where I was at in terms of 5k speed. I haven't raced a 5k since November. (I was hoping for under 23 since I am not in 5k shape.)

And then the temperature was 90 degrees for this race. I adjust my expectations and thought that I could do a 10k speed workout and that would be good. But if that didn't happen, so be it.

I'd also been at work since 7:30 a.m. at a conference. I'd eaten badly and was generally tired from being around people (introvert problems).

Most of the runners I knew were going to take it easy. But I thought I could at least do a tempo and see what happened. (I thought 7:30 pace was doable).

And at 6:30 p.m. in 90 degree heat the race started.

Mile 1: 7:25. I was feeling fine.
The course was a little more hilly than I would have liked. A girl I know is slower than me passed me in the first mile. I just laughed silently.

Mile 2: 7:31.
I was feeling okay. I kept a consistent pace and stayed behind Kristen (who I finished behind at Marigold.) I think I passed slower girl in the first mile. I was maintaining.

Mile 3 7:30
By mile 3 I was getting hot. The course had a turn around, so I could see who was in front of me. I counted two women in front of me. So I was third place woman. After that turn around, that gave me some motivation. (I wasn't losing third and I was keeping the second place woman in sight. She finished near me at Marigold as well.) I was counting my steps to the finish. At about 2.8 I was really ready to be done, but knew by legs could do a speed 7:30 or 7:00 minute mile as long as I kept my foot turnover quick. So I slugged on.

.1 And then I got to the end of the course sooner than I thought. The clock was in the high 22s so I sprinted to be under 23

Running with the guys

Time: 22:55

And I was happy to be under 23.

The course actually measured a hair short. My watch measured it 3.09. So I walked around until my watch got to 3.11 so I'd have a 5k in Strava.

As for effort—it was a solid tempo. It wasn't an all-out run. And I wonder what I could do on a cool morning. But I also didn't want to go any harder than I had to. I was happy. My splits were consistent. All that 10k training DID pay off. I didn't die in the end. I heard that little voice in my head, but today I was determined not to let it get to me. I was more aware and not giving up this time.

I got a medal and a pint glass for finishing.

After that, I drank two cups of water. I was so hot. I said hi to some of my friends. I walked up the hill and a man told me popsicles from the ice cream truck had already been paid for. I got a watermelon popsicle and did my cool down running and eating a popsicle. The ultimate cool down.

Then I changed out of sweaty clothes, and went to the potluck.

Great turnout for our potluck

I ate a bunch of cookies. And then helped clean up.

I got home at 9 p.m. It was a long day. I was so tired I knew I'd sleep well.