Coming into this race I didn't know what to expect. I've been running injured ever since we took the kids to ice palace. Not sure what's wrong with me but it's a combination of swollen ankle, sore arches, sore achilles. Since racing is starting up again I kept my mileage low this week (nothing longer than 4 miles) and I've been icing, stretching, and massaging. In my head I wanted to try and compete this race at a sub 9 minute pace but I wasn't sure how the foot was going to hold up.
When I got to the race course we ran into friends from highschool. G and S were both athletes in highschool like Mike and I and we knew them pretty good. I had seen G race at the Coconut Race and I knew he was fast. Talking story with the boys at the starting line got my kinda pumped and I decided to see how I could do.
The horn sounded and everyone took off. Since it was gun time I wanted to stay close to the front (something that I never ever do) and I wasn't sure what to expect. Since it was a smaller race (about 400 runners) it wasn't too bad. It still amazes me how fast some people can start out. I am a very slow starter. Very. I need to practice the start if I am going to be running more 5Ks. Anyway, we started out at about an 8:30 pace. I wasn't sure how I was going to be able to hold the pace being that I had never really strategized a 5K race. I was just hoping that I wasn't going to crash and burn in a short-lived blaze of non-glory.
I was able to hold the pace for the first mile but at mile 2 glanced down at my Garmin and saw that I was at about an 8:43 pace. The good thing about a 5K is that at mile 2 you only have one more to go so I decided to stay at that pace and burn it at 2.5.
As we made the turn toward the endline I tried to hold pace at about 8:30. I could feel that the lack of runs this week coupled with the injury was holding me back and I was unable to start the kick that I usually do at races when I have a mile left. As I got closer to the finish line I decided to give it what I could and I took off sprinting. I looked up and saw the clock. 26:50. I looked for the mat. Too far away. I wasn't going to post a sub 27 finish time. I was both bummed and pissed at myself. I needed better "course management." I had been looking at my pace and happy to see 8:30s that I had neglected to look at my finish time.
As I crossed the mat and heard the beep of my timing chip I stopped my Garmin and saw 27:03. With gun time there was no hope in sub 27. Oh well...maybe next time? :) A huge mahalo to my friend Kathy who gave me her bib so I could race today. I think I want to do more 5Ks. For sure I need to try and beat my new PR.
After the race the hubby and I jumped in our car and headed to Diamond Head to do our marathon clinic run. Between the heat and the morning race I struggled through the run but was able to complete 10 miles.
What an insane day!!!
No comments:
Post a Comment