Sunday, January 29, 2012

Rage Against The 5k (Race Recap)


(nods to OUAL's rage against the electrician).   
Alternative title:  the longest short race ever. 

Ah yes...the 5k.  The race I love to hate...to love....
I've made no secret of wanting to break 20 in the 5k.  It would be a dream some true.  However, in full disclosure, my recent workouts told me I wasn't quite there.  I figured I'd sign up for a 5k before Eugene training started to see if I could knock time off my PR.  Here's the one I did:



Race Day
I woke up at 5:30AM and cursed out the alarm.  I ate some mango chunks and had coffee with almond milk.  Almond milk has been the best HLB discovery simply because I can't drink normal milk (I drink a ton of milk usually) before I run (I get pukeworthy sick) and now I can drink this stuff before instead...

Drove up to Playa Del Rey and was surprisingly early.  Usually I am the world's latest person for races but there was no traffic so I ended up just hanging out for a while.  I warmed up and realized that I felt pretty terrible.  I had a bit of a headache, felt tired, and my legs felt heavy.  And just like Shakira's hips don't lie, my race legs don't lie.

I went up to the start, and only one other girl was there.  She was in an old school track outfit and giant Nike shoes.  Girl was running striders for like 30 minutes.  But she ended up finishing ahead of me, so clearly she's doing something right.

Finally, it was time to go.  The course wasn't chip timed, which was sort of disappointing, but it's not like 1-2 seconds are keeping me out of an Olympic Trials qualifier, so I guess it's ok.   I asked some guy next to me what he was aiming for and he said a 19:45.  I told him I wanted to sub-20 but it had never happened before, so the odds of it happening today were pretty low.  (Yup...my confidence was pretty low ;-). )

I try to break up my races into chunks in my head because it helps me to get through them, mentally.  I planned it as follows:  First Half Mile:  Settle In.  Miles .5-1.5:  Fast but controlled.  Miles 1.5-2.5:  Focus like a mad woman.  Keep stride fast.  Miles 2.5-3.1:  Run like your life depends on it.

Here's how it turned out in reality:

Sorry, no pics, but this is the jist ;-). 
Mile 1: 6:17
Thoughts:  Keep it right around 6:30...wow, that was 6:17?  Maybe you will sub-20!  Thank god I passed that woman pushing the stroller.

Mile 2: 6:46
Thoughts:  WHY ARE YOU SLOWING DOWN, Slowass????  My lungs are burning!
I was running alone most of the race from mile two.  It was mentally tough. 

Mile 3: 6:35
Thoughts:  Gut it out, Gut it out, Gut it out.  Lung still burning.
Some lady and her family were about to cross the path right in front of me and I yelled "track".  Guess the impatient track runner in me will never die.   =)

Total Race Time:  20:26, 4th Woman. 

Thoughts:  This was a 13 second PR, and it's hard to pick apart a PR.  It's good to be south of 20:30 and I'm proud of myself for running a decent race when I didn't feel "on".  It's frustrating, because I think on a good day, I could have done better, but on Saturday (judging by how tired I was the rest of the day), I'm pretty sure that was my best.  And sometimes your best just ain't good enough for your lofty expectations!

Guess I'll just have to run some more of these godforsaken 5ks!  
Love,
Margot "Sub-20 One Day" FasterBunny

33 comments:

  1. 5ks are the worst! So close to your goal, and a PR is a PR, be proud! You're so speedy!

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  2. Hey, slowass... 6:45 IS NOT SLOWASS. You are amazing. :) Sub-20 will happen soon... I can feel it. :)

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    1. thanks lady. truth be told, I was also calling myself a fatass, but I didn't want to promote bad body image. Although maybe I just did?

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  3. Yeow! Stud-muffinette! Way to kick it :)

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  4. That is awesome!!! Congrats on the new PR. And I think fewer than 1% of runners can handle dairy before they run. That stuff is trouble for everyone!

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    1. we should host a race where everyone has to chug milk prior to racing. it would be really fun ;)

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  5. Way to go girl!!!!!!! Sub 20 is so close you can TASTE it!!!

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  6. Congrats on the PR!

    It's going to happen for you this year. Especailly with all the mile you'll be putting in for Eugene.You're closing in!

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    1. yup. that is my hope. that real mileage (50-60 mpw?) will make the difference in my running.

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  7. You'll totally do sub 20 - 26 seconds is nuffin.

    And 30 minutes of strides? Holy warmups. Seems a little excessive to me.

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  8. Oh I am right there with you chasing down the sub-20. I think with the 5k either your legs are in it or there not. You did really good considering you weren't really feeling it. Great job!

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    1. too bad we can't run a 5k together. I suspect we could push each other to get it.

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  9. Nice PR!A sub 20 min 5k has been a goal of mine for awhile now, too!

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    1. let me know when you get it! I'd love to hear about it :)

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  10. Hahahahaaa. TRACK!

    Nice PR. Also, nice depiction of the course. I love it.

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    Replies
    1. I felt really obnoxious, but come on, we're havin' a race here!

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  11. Queen of lofty expectations that can't be met yet here--but you did so well!! You had me all set up for a conclusion that involved puking or DNF'ing--and what do you give me: a PR. Wow! I agree with everyone above who says the marathon miles will be good for the speed. Looks like you and I are taking opposite approaches this spring: you're gonna build endurance and hopes it nets you the sub-20 5K; I'm going work on speed (relative speed, that is) to help me in the marathon.

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    1. And you really need both speed and strength at all distances! We'll keep up the lofty goals ;-)

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  12. That's fast! That's all I have to say.

    No wait, one more thing. You have a mean little coach in your head like I do. haha.

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  13. Nice Job! I'm sure you will break 20 by the end of this year.

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    1. Thank you! Fingers crossed. I figure the stars will align and my training will be good enough one of these days!

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  14. Superstar! You'll get sub 20. Look how close you were when you felt off and imagine how fast you would have been if you were on! It's gonna happen, lady!

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    1. Thanks lady. Did you see that rachelle wore your shirt! yay!

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  15. good job on a new 5k PR. :) maybe we could sub 20 together?!!

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  16. Is it just me or was the lack of shade and warm weather a beast or Is it because I'm and Idaho girl. I ran a slow 10k...first race in Cali! PR's are the best

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