onepinkfuzzy

But really, I expected to PR, seeings as how the only 5k race I did was my very first last summer (38 minutes and change).

Yesterday, I said I had no time goal, but by this morning, I had decided that I really wanted to break 33 minutes (just under an 11-minute mile). I figured that I should be able to do that, since I did a four-mile fartlek two weeks ago at a quick pace (I couldn't remember the pace this morning).

The Spring Cross-Country Classic is a low-cost, no-frills race, which means potluck food, no race T-shirt and...a keg! Yes, you read that right. They called it a beer garden - "have a beer on us!" What a fun way to end a race. They also run the women's division separate from the men's, so each division can cheer the other on. This also means that Johnny and I were both able to race, while the other watched Ash!

I liked what Liv said, "start as a tempo run, then go faster until you feel like you need to puke, then slow down a bit." That sounded good to me, so that's what I did. I positioned myself in the back of the pack as usual, and ended up passing people from the get-go. Guess I should have started more in the middle. But it's fun to pass!

The course was great - fun, sandy washes, grass, curves, dirt roads. It ended on pavement (which I didn't really like, but oh, well!) - the last .1 was a bike path. Made for great photos!

So I started out as though I was doing a tempo run, then tried to go a bit faster. I focused on quick turnover, which really helped. I ate a gel right before the race (timed just right this week!), and brought a water bottle. First lesson learned: when actually racing a race, don't carry a water bottle! I was going too fast to actually drink any water (each time I took a sip, it upset my stomach), and the darned thing was heavy. There were quite a few spots where I just wanted to throw the darn thing into the bushes and come back out to find it later!

It started generally downhill, then wound around some grass, then headed up my own version of "heartbreak hill." It was pretty steep and rocky, but very short, and I was able to run it both times (it was a loop course). The rest of the course was over rolling desert terrain. Ash ran to the finish line with me (I loved that!).

I really enjoyed this race. The world's best hummus awaited me at the finish line; I washed it down with an ice-cold pepsi (the beer came out after the men's race). I had a blast watching the men come in - Mike (who came in fourth, Way to Go!), Wayne (the newlywed), Johnny - it was fun. There was a playground for Ash, and at the end, they held a kids race! Ash wore his daddy's bib number, and I ran with him. He didn't want to run the whole thing (he was tired!) but he did it, and came in second (out of two) in his age group :)

Here are the pictures.

Johnny and I crashed when we came home. I took a two-hour nap, and Johnny managed one hour before having to go to a school meeting thing. Unfortunately, Ash isn't napping (yikes), so he's going a little crazy.

Regarding my pace, I was super-excited when I finished, because I broke 33 minutes. But in reviewing my training, I realized that my four-mile fartlek two weeks ago was done at the exact same pace - 10:24/mile. And that was longer, and I didn't feel like throwing up at the end. So then I started thinking that I should have been faster! I wondered how I could have shaved time today, and think I really ran as fast I could today - maybe I could have shaved 15 seconds without that darned water bottle. So now I'm a little bummed. I know, I know, I did an awesome job, and I'm disappointed! I'm not enjoying that feeling right now. So maybe I just need to think things through a little (and get more sleep?) to feel better. Oh, one thing I want to remember is that four-mile fartlek was done on a completely flat course (the river path) and mostly on pavement, and this race had dirt and even sandy spots (those were tough!). It was also done about 1.5 hours later than I normally run and was a little warmer. Overall, I am pleased. Just a little frustrated and curious, because I think I should have been faster - but not sure how I could have actually been faster!

ADDED...I forgot to mention that I took a great "ice bath," by dipping in the unheated pool at our apartment complex....BRRRRR!

ADDED again...the results are up! And I actually finished in 32:20.