Today the group's plan was to run 4 5K's. We like to call them 5k's because it's the old course of the So. Jordan 5K, but whoever measured it got it a little wrong, and it's more like just 3 miles. But I don't care, it's close enough for me. That extra .12 miles may have put me over the top today. So we get there at 5:30 and just take off, turning left and running the course that way first. I felt pretty good, fairly comfortable. But that was the plan, stay comfortable so you can finish strong at the end. The time on that was 26:55 avg. pace 8:56, best pace 6:28. Hmm, no wonder it felt fairly comfortable. Will 23 minutes ever feel fairly comfortable? Probably not.
Anyway, then off for the next one. This one was harder, I felt fairly uncomfortable on it. My time was 24:29, avg. pace 8:13, best pace 6:32.
So I try to tell myself we're halfway thru, pick up the pace now. Did I do it? No, my time on this was 24:54, avg. pace 8:18, best 6:19
Now I'm starting to hurt, I'm stiffening up, I just want to go home and go back to bed. But I told myself I was going to run 4, so by golly I was going to do it, even if it took 45 minutes. The only ones left standing were me, Kelli and Debbie. We decided we were just going to run slow and just get thru the dang thing! So we take off, running probably about a 9:30 pace, crest Rustic Roads, start our downhill on 2700 W., and all of a sudden I felt the proverbial "second wind." Finally, I had some energy, which was nice. I think my mind knows the misery is almost over, so it's more willing to let me loosen up and run a little better. If only I can feel that way at the beginning of runs. Anyway, my time on that was 25:42, avg. pace 8:37, best 5:48. I guess that's pretty good after averaging probably about a 9:30 first mile.
So while I was happy to finish strong, I wish I had felt a little better on the two middle 5k's. Always something to be a little dissatisfied about and always something more to work on. That's the life of a runner, it seems like. That's what makes running fun! Congrats to everyone who took on this tough workout, and good job Kelli for sticking it out with me and running all 4. I hope you felt better than I did when you got home. It took until about noon for me to feel among the living again. |