Race Report: Run 4 A Reason 5K (and new PR in the mile)

Run 4 A Reason 5K

August 14, 2010

This is going to be a short report, simply because my race was over and done with before it ever really began.

The scenario:

5k race on a familiar course

90F heat index at 7:30AM

Near heat exhaustion the weekend preceding the race

Three full days off a few days before the race due to aforementioned heat issue

A very antsy runner who now feels fat, bloated, etc... due to taking 3 days off.  

Pre-race:

Size up competition at the start line.  There is hardly anyone here.

Line-up behind the HS cross country girls b/c I would rather get run over by someone behind me than have to mow over a walker.

Heart rate is already 120 bpm and I haven't even started running.

Take a few deep breaths to slow HR.  It doesn't work.

Mile 1:

Take off at what I 'think' is a moderate pace.  Good for the start of a 5k.  Remind myself of the importance of pacing.

Half mile in, I notice I am behind 2 cross country girls and their coach (an absolutely awesome athlete who usually wins all of the local 5K races, but happens to have an injury right now).

Think to myself: She's injured, she'll be taking it easy.  I can just settle on in right here.

Boy, I am breathing a bit hard.  Do I always breathe this hard at the beginning of a 5k?

Garmin buzzes.  Mile 1 split.

New PR in the mile (not that I've ever raced a mile before).

I am mad at myself for chasing bunny rabbits.

Mile 2:

I slow my pace to what I 'should' be running, but it is too late.  I am eating rabbit turds.

Heart rate reaches 190 and stays there for a bit.  I wonder exactly how many beats I have left before I reach max HR and fall dead to the ground.

Garmin buzzes.  Mile 2 split.  Perfect-- if only I hadn't bombed mile 1.

Mile 3:

The first quarter of mile 3 comes and goes and I'm still holding on.

At the turn-around I see 3 women hot on my heels.  They are around my own age; the cross country girls & their injured coach are long gone. 

At mile 2.5, all 3 women pass me like I am standing still. Oh wait, at this pace standing still would be faster.

I want to sit down.

Mile 3.1:

I find myself pacing well-- for a PR in the half marathon!

The finishing kick that I usually have is not there.

A few men blaze by me.  Weren't these the same men who were 1/2 mile behind me at the end of mile 1?

I jog into the finish chute.  I volunteer offers me a high five.

I smile.

End result:

For such a craptasticly executed race, I went home pleased.  As we all know, I do not "do" heat. Despite this, I ended up with a course PR.  My previous PR on this course was set when it was 50F out.   I would consider that improvement.

Moral of the race report:

Do not chase rabbits (even injured ones), lest you will eat rabbit turds.