Our kids are very active and our daughter especially loves to run. We don't' want to push our kids but over the past year have talked to them a lot about mommy and daddy racing. They have recently taken an interest in the sport and so we have decided to slowly expose them to the racing culture.
This was to be their 2nd race. They participated in a 500 meter fun run last May and I had to carry the 4 year old for most of the way. In preparation for today's race we went on 1 mile "adventure jogs" with a lot of skipping, jumping, hopping, and fun stuff.
Our favorite Kindergarten teacher and our fitness friends all signed up for the race since it's a big fundraiser for the schools. We all planned to hang out after the race and leading up to it the big event was getting more and more exciting.
Because I am competitive I signed myself up for the 5K race and the hubby and the kids for the 1 miler. The plan was to have the kids and hubby run with our other friends. We knew that our kids would all run at different paces so we were hoping that we'd have enough adults to keep up with all the kids.
Getting the kids up early was not easy and we got to the race right on time. I had to run to my start while the hubby went to the other start with everyone else.
Coming off from the North Shore Marathon and injuries 2 weeks ago I didn't do many long runs and I wasn't exactly sure how my left knee would hold up. Being that I don't run 5Ks I also didn't know what to expect. I had PRd all my races in 2013 up to this point but as far as 5Ks go, I have only ran three of them and only one was an officially timed race. At the start line I voiced my goal pace to a friend as "26 minutes." I figured that that would be a good goal as the last time I wan a 5K I did it in about 27 minutes last year.
When the bomb blasted to start the race I took off and was amazed to see how many little ones were running faster than me. As I looked down at my watch I noticed that I was running at a 7:50 pace but didn't feel at all uncomfortable so I decided to hang there for awhile. I watched as little person after little person sped past me and I wondered if they would be able to keep pace and whether I was really slow. At mile 1 I was at just about an 8 minute pace and was still cruising along. With no training background I wasn't sure if I would crash and burn at this pace or be able to hold it another 2 miles so I decided to slow down a bit. I was feeling good, foot was feeling good, knee was in check and I was okay. At about this time I saw my family at the starting line of their race and they were cheering for me, it was an awesome feeling!!!
At mile 2 I looked at my Garmin and saw that I was still at the 8:00 pace. I knew that the winners were crossing the finish line and my family was just starting the 1 mile run. With no idea how to "finish" a 5K run I told myself to hold it here and kick when I had half a mile left. At this point I began passing other runners who could not sustain their pace.
At just about 2.5 miles I saw my friends and family with my little guy walking on the 1 mile route. I knew the end was near so I decided to pick up the pace a little. Again though, not having any concept of this distance I wasn't sure how hard to run. With other races that I run on the same route I know exactly where I need to pour it on (Tennis courts at Kapiolani Park) and I know how long I can sustain my kick. But today, I was clueless and in uncharted territory.
As I approached the shoot I had no idea where I was on time (another no no on my running) and I decided to just run all out. As I crossed the line I saw that my time was 25:15 on my Garmin. I was ecstatic because I had never before clocked a 25 minute race and at the same time a little confused since I still felt like I had so much more energy to give.
I neared the refreshment tent and saw that my husband was there with my daughter. She was having a grand old time and the hubby gave me her re-cap.
According to the hubby the little princess had an awesome run and came in as the first girl. She ran very hard during the whole mile and pushed on even when her friend stopped to walk. In fact, he had to run really hard in order to be able to catch up with her!!!
At that point the rest of the 1 miler runners started to come in and it was time to celebrate. When all the dust settled I had another 4th place finish, once again missing a medal by another thirty seconds and of course that drove me nuts again. I began to pick my dear friend K's brain about running and came up with a plan to work on my speed. As the kids played at the park, running around enjoying life and the adults watched them and talked story I was just so happy to have friends who share so many of my passions and with whom we can just hang out at the park with and enjoy one another.
And so another race comes to a close and this racing mommy with an over-active mind begins thinking, plotting, scheming, and looking for the next 5K. You heard it here. I am committing to more cross training, more speed work and will slowly begin adding more 5K races to my schedule...but first up! Do I run the Pineapple 10K? And more importantly, time to start training for the Half Marathon in less than a month!! Let's do this!!!
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