I'm actually pretty surprised at how well it has been going. My friend Angela and I have done a majority of the training together building up the long runs, and getting some tempo runs in mid week. Twice I've tried new forms of speed work, and doubted my ability both times. I ended up pulling out speeds I've never done before for the distances I was covering. It was amazing! The long runs have not been bad, quite fun actually, but they have had me wondering how I'll be able to PR. I just tell myself, to keep training and we'll see what happens on race day.
Last week I had an evening 5k with my daughter that I worked into my long run. She's not a big runner, but really wanted to do the race. So about three weeks ago we signed the two of us up. Angela and I decided to run 8 miles as close to the start time as possible. Since I figured Evie would be walk/running the 5k, I wanted to get one more mile in, so I ran from my house to meet Angela at the location of the race, and then we did an out and back run from there.
GloRun Recap~
Angela and I made it to the start line with a few minutes to spare. We each found our families and figured we would see each other at the finish line. I was thankful my daughter would have walks through out this race because our run leading up to the race was good, but difficult. I would have been just fine to be done running completely at that point. Walking would be nice. Turns out, Evie had more in her than either of us expected. The course is a two loop course, starting and finishing in the downtown area.
I knew Evie tends to take off fast, but the couple times we have run together, she faded quickly. At this race however, she ran further during each run than normal. At times, I couldn't even keep up with her. I don't know if this is because she was running faster than I am really able, or if it was because I had just run 9 miles. I chose to not look at my watch through out the race and just see what happened. We weren't being chip timed or anything and I really just wanted this to be a fun run for Evie.
I was impressed with the sideline support at this race. We live in a little-ish town and in the past, the 5k's I've done have been fun, but lacking in the sideline and post race areas. I loved that Evie got to have a fun experience with a lot of spectators.
As we were finishing, Evie had a lovely kick to the finish line. I'm so impressed, and proud of her! Based on my watch, the course wasn't not quite a full 5k, our finish time was 31:58 with an average pace of 10:33. We had hardly finished before Evie was asking to do it again next year!
Another week of training went by and brought us to today. We reached peak training today! Angela was doing another 5k this morning, so we met early to get in 9 miles before her race, and I planned to do the final 3 on my own. We had a good run, but it was challenging. It felt hard and as we were finishing I actually said I was done and wouldn't be doing three more. I didn't mean it of course, but I was done in that moment. We ended up finishing a little later than planned, and Angela's family had left for the 5k already. So I took her to the race, arriving 10 minutes before start time. I figured since I was there I may as well participate also. I ran in and got registered with just a couple minutes to spare. Talk about last minute! It was an adventure for sure!
Chip's Share It Forward 5k Recap~
After the 9 miles we had just done, I really was not sure what I had to give in my last three. My only goal was to hopefully not walk. Angela and I began together with another friend, but I was pulling ahead just a little. Angela told me she really had nothing left to put in, but she didn't mind if I went on. She also had a goal to finish before her husband who was also running, but had not been running very regularly. (For the record, they tied, with the exact same time and pace :-D ) I told her I was staying and just up around the corner we were going to pick it up to pass him. Around 1 mile there was a water stop. Angela's husband and one of her daughters he was running with, stopped for water and I told her this was our chance to pass. She really wasn't feeling it, and I heard her tell her daughter to stick with me. So J and I continued at a faster pace. I wasn't paying attention to numbers, just trying to go by feel. And stay with J. She's a fast kid! I was feeling mostly ok until the last mile. At that point I was pushing to stay with J. We caught up to her sister with about half a mile to go and the three of us stuck together for just a little bit. With the last 1/10 or so to go the girls each sped up. I didn't get my normal kick, but I finished as strong as I felt I could, just a few seconds behind J. This race had time chips on the back of our bibs (which was an unexpected surprise to me) and a tent set up at the finish line for official results. J and I headed over and I was shocked to see that my finish time was 28:33, average pace 9:12! How in the world I pulled a 9:12 pace after a difficult 9 miles, I'll never know. I was extremely pleased though.
This was my third year to do the Chip's 5k and I'm so glad I made the *very* last minute decision to do it!
I now have two weeks until the RussVegas Half Marathon. I'm greatly looking forward to tapering. Even with all the last minute races I have been doing, and the fact that I have been training since July, I'm still not burned out on running. Tired? Yes. Exhausted really. But I have looked forward to every run I have done, even the ones I knew would be hard.
I'm truly excited about RussVegas, whatever is in store for me there...
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