Now I kinda feel like a runner...

Reindeer Run 5k Race Report



I caught the running bug as soon as my knee started feeling better last month. I had to force myself to take rest days this week. I've just been enjoying it so much. So after the PR (23:31) at the Pigskin Classic, I signed up for another race. This is the last of about 60 local races run by Hermes. I was told that it was completely flat and a great course for a PR. I got excited to break through the 23 minutes barrier and was thinking about it all week. I was able to talk Colleen and my friend Vikas into coming down with me. It was Vikas' first 5k since high school, so it was tons of fun heading down. He also called in a prescription for an albuterol inhaler for me. Mine was expired and I felt like I really needed it at the last race. My lungs had never hurt that bad in my life.

We showed up a little late, so by the time we had our race numbers, chips, and had our stuff tucked away in the car it was 5 minutes to race time. Oops! I guess no warm up today! I took a puff of the inhaler, ran in place a bit and jogged to the starting line. I decided to start farther back today. I started right up front last time and it was so defeating to be passed the whole time!

Soon after we hit the starting area the race began. I realized the bad part of starting to the back right away! It was really tough to get going. Very congested. But then we turned a corner onto the road and I was able to run on the outside. It was actually pretty fun to pass people for a change.

The first mile seemed like it was taking forever. I was worried that with the congested start it would be a really slow mile 1. When I saw the marker and looked down I was very pleasantly surprised.

Mile 1 7:05

I was feeling much better than at this point in the last race so I tried to just hold steady. I kept passing people and soon saw the leading man coming back. He was smoking fast! As I came across the turnaround I saw my friends Liz and Janet cruising the other way. They looked amazing. I can't wait until the day I can even keep up to those chicas in training!

After the turnaround I felt like I was fading a little but kept telling myself to suck it up- it's a short race- I can withstand pain for 3 miles. When I got to mile 2, I was also really surprised

Mile 2 7:07

I was too tired to calculate how fast I had to go to break 23 minutes so I just tried my best to hold steady. One thing that was really obvious about my running was that I could actually breathe! So I guess I have to just pony up to the fact that I have asthma. Denial is painful!

The last mile was really tough, but about 1/2 mile from the end I could see the 3 mile marker. I didn't look at the my watch when I hit mile 3, I just tried to run my fastest that last 0.1. As I looked down at my watch as I crossed the finish line I couldn't believe my eyes

21:50

I didn't just break 23, I broke 22! Woooohoooooo!

I never thought that I would place in my age group in a 5k. I never felt like I was a runner. But for some reason, this race changed that. I got third in my age group and now all I can think about is my next run. Bring it on!

A HUGE kudos to a couple of my favorite tri-chicks Elizabeth and Janet. Both had incredible PRs and won their age groups. Some day I'll feel fast enough to run with you guys on your easy days

:-)