Connie and I decided to another 5k. We were in AF and saw the sign for Steel Days, which always has a 5k associated with it, and decided "why not". The
last time we did a 5k , two months ago, I ran a 24:45 and so I decided I was going to try to run under 24 minutes. I hadn't really run at all since the last 5k but I had been biking a little and had done some work to increase my leg strength with according to some studies can increase running stamina. My race plan was simple: I would spend the first mile try to relax and get into a steady pace. I would try to maintain that pace for the second mile, and then the last mile I would run as fast as I could. Things did not quite go according to plan. The race started and I tried to get settled into a rhythm, but my legs felt heavy and I was breathing a lot harder than I would have liked. I didn't feel like I was running as fast as I needed, but I knew I couldn't speed up, because I was already struggling. I kept waiting to see the one mile marker. I waited. and I waited. And I waited. Until finally I concluded that either I was running horribly slow, or that there was no one mile marker. A little after that I reached what I knew was roughly the half way point and so I knew I had probably gone about 1.5 miles. The first half of the 5k loop is slightly uphill and the last half is slight downhill. I was not feeling particularly awesome and was starting to get a stitch in my side and kind of wanted to stop. But I decided I would not stop but would just try to relax and see if I could pick up the pace on the last half. I tried to pick up the pace, but I just couldn't. People started passing me and I really felt like just giving up. I thought there is no way I am going to run under 24 minutes. I felt like I was running 9-10 minute miles. I tried to make excuses for myself in my head. I told myself I not a runner anymore, so it is okay that I am really slow. I had just set a new PR for pullups this week (12) and I told myself at least I had more well rounded fitness than when I was a runner. A few more people passed me and I thought about trying to latch on to them and trying to keep up with them, but I just didn't have the motivation. I thought, "what is the point of pushing to run 9 minute mile pace instead of a 10 minute mile pace". Finally I got to where I knew there was just a few blocks left in the 5k. I decided it would be at least a better workout if I pushed the last 300-400 meters. I picked up my stride to try to keep up with a guy who just passed me. When we rounded the last corner to the finish line, we could see the race clock. I was expecting to see 27 or 28 minutes. Instead it had just hit 23 minutes! I was shocked. I sprinted the last little stretch to beat the guy who had passed me and finished in 23:13 for an average of 7:26 per mile. It was bittersweet. I was very happy I had shattered my goal of running under 24 minutes. I was dissappointed in myself for having given up so easily. I am sure if I had realized what my pace was I could have easily been in the 22s. I am also sure if I ran more I would have had a better sense of what my pace actually was. I probably won't do too much more running these summer, expect for some sprint workouts, but this fall when it is too dark to ride my bike to work, i will be replacing biking with running and I think I may just be able to get my 5k under 20 minutes again. That would be awesome.
Speaking of awesome. Connie finished her 5k in 35 minutes. That is awesome because she hasn't been running that much either and it is 10 minutes faster than her last 5k. I have no doubt she will be running under 30 minutes by the end of the year.
All in all, we had a great time and look forward to doing more athletic events together.
