Saturday, September 13, 2014

Best Run Ever

the weather suddenly dropped to the 50s;  Ideal running conditions.  After 3 hot months, I realized just how much more difficult heat and humidity makes a run.  

My previous best pace for 5 miles was 8:01, mind you - and they never come easy.

Today it did.  I started at 7:45.  I thought that was a bit ambitious, but after 2 miles - i was at 7:44, and still feeling great.  After 3 miles - 7:42.  Wow!  2 miles left and still feeling like I had more to give, so I stepped it up.   A mile in a half came quicker than I expected.  7:41.   I stepped it up more.  1 mile left: 7:40.   Half a mile left: 7:38.   And I still felt great!  The last half mile would be easy.  I even considered going got a 10K.  I'd easily KILL my previous record.  But - I didn't have time.  Maddie was being watched by the neighbor.   I stepped it up even more - and when for the final .12 miles - I actually had energy to dash - and I dashed. 

Final pace: 7:35.   I ran for 37 minutes and 58 seconds - and felt pretty damn good the entire time.  I'm not going to say I didn't break a sweat, but a run just never felt better.

Head for the Cure 5K

Time: 22:14
pace: 7:03
Place:14 overall
3rd place medal


OK - it actually logged me at a 7:10 pace.  But that is crap.   The course was too long, about 3:15. 

Regardless, I was disappointed not to break 7 on this one.  It's the event I'd been aggressively training for the past two months.  I ate exceptionally well that week, and got a good amount of sleep as well.  The weather was even perfect.   I could tell though after the first mile that it wasn't happening.  Even though I started well under 7 - I knew it was going to be a struggle going forward.  I wanted to die when we zigged left instead of right near the end, which meant we weren't 100 feet away; we were 500 or so....

So... for the second event in a row - I guess I got status quo, but for whatever reason - I left feeling a bit disappointed.  I guess after running 80 miles in August - I thought I was going to have a special run.. but it was 30 seconds slower than my June run.   Makes no sense...  especially since I'm probably 7 pounds lighter.