When a Sub-30 Minute 5k is a "Relaxed" Run

When I registered for the competitive run for Race for the Cure this year (and last year) I thought that in order to get a medal I had to place in the top 300. I love supporting the cause and I'd be happy to participate and not receive a medal. However, I also love the added challenge of the goal that comes with signing up as a competitive runner. In the past I've felt like I'd have to get a PR in order to finish within that top 300 goal. Well a few weeks before the race this year I found out that ANYONE who finished in 30 minutes or less would get a medal. When I read that I felt a pretty big weight lifted. I knew I could do that one. So I set a secondary goal of finishing in 29 or less minutes. I was 90% sure I could meet that goal. I've done it plenty of times. My only reservation was that I'd been pretty relaxed in my training this year. I hadn't run many hills even though I knew this course was very hilly. I had also only done a couple speed runs, both went very well, but I was not confident. So I felt like a goal of 29 minutes was reasonable, but knew there was a chance I'd not quite make it. In the back of my head I set a third goal- to finish with an average pace of 9 minutes per mile or less. I figured I'd get started at the race and see how I feel before I decided for sure.

Race morning arrived and I was nervous without reason. I kept reminding myself that I could treat this like any other run. I felt like I had something to prove to myself though, so the nerves continued while I made my way to the starting line. I was so anxious, that I had left my friends as soon as we parked, and ended up standing in the coral waiting for almost 30 minutes. I fed off the energy around me while responding to some encouraging texts I had received and before I knew it, it was time to start. A woman led a heartfelt prayer and with best of luck wishes the gun sounded and we were off!

I started off fast. Too fast. And I knew it. I also didn't care. :) I felt good and I hoped I'd settled in to a comfortable pace. My first quarter mile was averaging an 8:15 pace! I knew I couldn't maintain that, but I figured I'd just keep going until I had to slow down. The slow down happened gradually, but at one mile I had still managed an 8:43 pace. It was here that I decided to try and reach my third goal of a sub-9min average.
The hardest part of this course is going over the bridge that crosses the river, and we have to do that twice. The first time I went over I was almost to the top of the hill when I reached 1 1/2 miles. It was hard and I knew I had slowed down, but I hoped to regain some of my time going down the other side of the bridge. We went down a couple blocks and then circled back around to the bridge again. I was working my way up the hill on the bridge, had just reached 2 1/2 miles, and I had to walk. I felt the beginnings of how I feel when I start to lose control of my breathing and I figured it would be better to not make the pace I was hoping for, than to break down completely and not meet any of my goals. I only let myself walk long enough for three deep breaths and I picked it back up. I reached the top of the hill and passed the last person doing the competitive run making their way on the other side. I badly wanted to say something encouraging to her, but as I was having trouble breathing, I couldn't say anything and hope a smile worked just the same.
For the last half mile I just kept chanting in my head, "Almost done" and counting down the turns I had left to the finish line. Even with the short walk my pace was still under a 9 minute average, but I knew I couldn't go any slower. I was determined to reach that goal. I made the final turn and there it was. The finish line... up a short hill. Not even a hill, but it was definitely an incline. Who puts a finish line on an incline??? :)

I crossed the finish line and stopped Runkeeper, but didn't think to look at the information until after I had received my medal and found some water. It was then that I finally looked and saw that I did meet all three of my goals. The chip time stats are different from Runkeeper, which is not very unusual, but I like my Runkeeper stats better. :) (And since it's what I base my training on, I feel like I'm justified in using it as a way to base my progress in official races.) I'll mention both just for the sake of being candid.

Runkeeper:
Distance- 3.16
Finish Time- 27:58
Average Pace- 8:51

Official:
Distance- 3.1
Finish Time- 28:08
Average Pace- 9:05

Usually the stats between chip time and Runkeeper aren't so different. It's only a matter of a second or two. I don't really understand why it's that much this time. Ten seconds (or 15 if I'm talking about my pace) may not seem like much, and it's not, but when it comes to making a goal, every second counts.

I really enjoyed doing the competitive race this year. With less stress about reaching difficult goals, I was able to enjoy the sideline support more than I did last year. I even snagged a bead necklace from a firefighter as I passed one of the many trucks on the course. (The beads are a big deal. No one knows why. :) There are a few different places along the course where there are firetrucks with the firefighters throwing the beads from the top, or standing and passing them out from below. It tends to cause a lot of congestion along the way if you're a walker, but everyone seems to enjoy it anyway. :) )

I'm glad I've reached a point where I can do the competitive run but still take in the exciting things that are going on at the same time. I feel like I get to experience the best of both sides. And since I started at 7:30, I was still able to get over to where the 2k finish line is and watch my good friend and her mom cross the survivor's finish line and also see the Survivor Parade after that.

I LOVE the whole experience. It's so special. I'm already looking forward to next year!