When I decided in the beginning of March that I wasn’t physically ready for the 5K I had been planning to run mid March, the Fools 5K seemed like a great alternative – it was at the beginning of April (giving me a few more weeks to prepare), way flatter than the 5K I had been considering running, and my brother wanted to run it, as well!
So I also convinced my dad and aunt to do it too, and signed the four of us up. Then… didn’t change that much about my training or eating, and ended up at the race, even heavier than I was at the beginning of March. Oops.
But! This is not a cry for “you’re not fat” comments. This is me just logically talking about how extra weight will slow you down at a race. I had originally hoped to PR the 5K this year (under 22:38) with a goal of sub 22:00. Going in to this race, I knew I would definitely not run a sub 22:00, and most likely, not even PR. Right before the race, my aunt asked me what I thought I would run, and I said “I wish I could do an average of 7:00s, but I bet it will be more like an average of 7:30s.”
And that is exactly what happened.
But first! A bit about this race! This is my fourth time running it (2007, 2011, 2012), and excitingly, I got a course PR!
This race has grown each year since I started running it, until it couldn’t grow anymore. I think they cap the entrants around 1,200 (it’s one of (if not THE) biggest 5Ks in Iowa, and definitely bigger than the 5Ks I usually run!) because of park capacity (this year there was 988 finishers). The race director is SUPER organized and it shows at the race (and leading up to it).
It’s called the Fools 5K because it’s around April Fools’ Day, and costumes are encouraged (there is even a costume contest!). However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t serious runners at this race – people come from all over the state, and they said there were eight other states represented. The course record was broken twice that day with a 15:01 and a 15:07. The field is competitive. So much so that they do something interesting for age groups with more people in them – they have deeper award fields. So, for example, my women’s 30-34 age group ran medals from 1st to 6th place. A few other groups had more than the traditional 1st-3rd as well. Interesting, right?
Also interesting is that I did not recall the deep age group placements when I registered, but saw there was an Athena division (for women over 155 pounds), and decided to sign up for it. I am not sure why. It kind of goes against what I said when I wrote this post about weighted race divisions. But I did remember, when registering, that it’s hard to place at this race, at all, and that it might be fun to try to win the overall Athena division. So, over a goal of PRing, and running a sub 22:00 (ha), what I really wanted to do that day, was win the Athena division.
So, the night before the race, I’m with my family and my dad shows me, on his phone, the stats of the woman who won the Athena division last year, in 23:33. And I am thinking, “Why is he showing me this? Of course I looked at past results to see the average times of people winning this division… I know I can run faster than that, but it always depends on who shows up that day to win the division.” So I’m like, “yeah, uh huh,” and he points at the name of the person and says “That’s our insurance agent.” Um… what??! Ha! He tells me “Last year, she told us she was running the Fools 5K, but she didn’t tell me she was hauling ass.” Ha ha.
Ugh, so now that I “know” the person who won it last year, it makes me feel even more nervous (5Ks seem to be the only races I get nervous for, when I am trying to run fast). I tell my dad to point her out to me if he sees her there. My mom suggests I run up to her during the race and tell her that she should stop and wait for my dad to run by, because he wants to talk to her about a new insurance policy. Ha. Ha ha ha. Oh, mom.
Alright, so. Race morning. It’s windy and cool, but sunny. 39°F and feels like 31°F with a 14 mph wind from the west. The race is a sort-of out and back (see map here), with us starting in to the west. I do my warm-up run and head straight in to the wind. Ugh. It’s annoying, but doesn’t feel too cold, so I ditch the arm warmers, and run the race in my tank and shorts.
I knew I would positive split the hell out of the race. I figured the first mile would be the only one close to 7:00, and the next two would be slower and slower. You’d think the wind at my back on the way back would help, but I had a feeling I would be dead. And I was.
I wrote a message on my hand to remind me to push through the pain. Usually, what happens during a 5K is that I mentally say “eff it” for the last mile, and I didn’t want to do that this time.
I didn’t. But my legs said “eff it,” this time. 6:59, 7:21, 7:39, 1:05:03 (7:03 pace – I ran a bit long). I kept telling them to push, I kept pumping my arms, wanting them to follow. I told myself “you’re almost there!” I listened to my techno/dance beats for energy. My legs were DONE. And you can tell by my form (and face!) in the finishing pic that my body had had enough.
I was happy with my finishing time of 23:06. It’s a few seconds slower than my last 5K, which was also on a hillier course, but… like I said, I am heavier now. And, was running in to the wind for most of the first half. So, eh. I am not an even 5K racer without a pacer, but I will take it.
After I finished, I ran back out on the course for a cool-down. I saw my brother, and he was walking. When I got up to him he said, “I ran the first half,” so I asked “What, are you going to walk the second?” He said yes, and I was like, “no you aren’t – run!” then he took off at a 7:30 pace and I couldn’t catch him. Ha ha. He finished in 32:49.
I ran back out and found my dad and aunt, who were doing run/walk intervals (my dad had knee surgery in the fall and can’t run like he used to, right now). IÂ ran with my dad for a bit, who finished in 46:34, and then with my aunt, who finished in 47:13 (my aunt is in the middle of the Couch to 5K training, and wanted to finish around 45:00 – super close to her goal!).
After we all finished we got in to the food line. I left the line for a second to print out my results and saw I did get first in the Athena division!!! I placed 87th out of 988 people, and was the 20th of 632 females. I would have placed fifth in my age group, if I had raced by age group, rather than Athena.
I have to talk about the post-race food. Wow. They had so many options! Cookies, granola bars, yogurt, bananas, oranges, popcorn, breakfast burritos, bagels, donuts, chocolate milk… and they even had a gluten-free table that I never checked out. Awesome spread!
We stuck around for a bit so I could pick up my Athena division award. It was super nice of my family to wait around for that! And to come out and race, and to spectate! Steven, my mom, and my brother’s girlfriend (and her dog!) were all there as well.
I am really proud of my older brother, dad and aunt for doing this 5K! I hope they all stick with working out, hee hee. My brother said his next 5K would be next year – maybe with his oldest son. My aunt wants to finish Couch to 5K. And dad HAS to keep working out since we are doing two days of RAGBRAI this year. Woot woot!
A few random notes:
- Despite the amount of people running this race, it never felt crowded to me – I started by the sign that said 7:30 and faster, and that seemed to be right. My brother said he started back too far though, and my dad said that about when he did it last year too.
- 180° turns in a race do not feel good. These weren’t pinpoint turns, but a gentle loop, but my body still slowed down, big time.
- This young boy was running the race with (who I assume was) his mom, and they were behind me, passed me half way, then finished right in front of me. Awesome pacing, little guy! I totally used him to pace. Ha.
- I really dig the bib and shirt for the race this year!
- Ha. Supination.
My brother does it too
- A guy dressed up like Mel Gibson’s character from Braveheart won the costume competition! Here are some of the other fun costumes!
- 632 of 988 finishers were female. This was a heavily female race!
- Updated to add: to my knowledge, the insurance agent was not even at the race. Ha ha.
The costumes are fantastic! And WOW to all the post run food!!
Fantastic job winning your division! An aside, when I texted you “so close” I had it in my head that you were trying to break 23. Derp. Can’t wrap my head around speedy 5k times – sorry 🙂
Do you think you’ll try again next year to PR?
It was so fun to see all the costumes!!! Tons of super heros! And Snow White and the Seven Dwarves. Steven thought the little Buzz Lightyear was so cute!
Thank you! Ha ha! And no worries!
If at any point, I lower my weight by 10-15 pounds, I will probably try then, to PR. I know I can do it, I just need to be a bit lighter! 🙂
Awesome!! It looks like a really fun race and you got to run with family too! Great call on the Athena division. I’d love to pace in the 7s. 🙂 I’m still LOL over fat swimsuit lady with duck. I don’t like sharp turns in races either! In a long race, they seem to trigger my foot cramps. Boo!
I love when my family does races too!!! I like sharing that joy with them!
Ha. The sumo lady and the duck lady had me laughing sooooooo hard!!!
Congrats on your Athena win! For someone who felt out of shape, your 5K times still make me drool. I feel like I am never going to beat my fluke PR of 23:21 that I set in July. I tried in November when I thought I was in better shape and missed it by over a minute. 5Ks are hard!! I think I am one of those runners whose fast-twitch muscles are not as developed as my long distance muscles.
That’s so sweet that it became a family affair and you all got to spend time together cheering each other on. Sounds like a great day!!
Thank you!!!
You are going to beat the PR. You probably could while you are marathon training. The intervals and faster training you do, even at MP, works on those fast twitch fibers a bit (and works on the ones that can go either way) and… running more helps you run faster, when you run short. I ran a 5K with no speed training while I was marathon training last year that was 20 seconds off my PR! And you know if you put in your new HM PR it will say something faster than 23:21 for your 5K time 🙂
Yay well done on winning the Athena division. Owie on the foot picture…your poor ankles. I hear you on being heavier..I cannot shift my extra weight right now and I know you aren’t looking for it but you still look like you workout a lot, I’ll take a few pounds of those muscles off ya 🙂
Thank you!
Ha ha! My ankles never feel it though, unless I roll them (like, trip on something). I do wish I supinanted a bit less though, so I didn’t have the stress on my knee and hip!
Aww, thanks 😉 You are going to have some nice muscles as you keep going with your strength training!
Congrats on the division win! So, was the insurance agent there??
Thanks! I didn’t look up to see if she raced, but if she was there, we didn’t see her! LOL.
I feel ya about the final mile of a 5k. I try to have fun music with me where I can find the beat and run with that.
^ Yeah, you left us hanging on the insurance lady story. I thought there was going to be a battle royale for the finish line with you yelling “Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there – In 2nd place, biotch!”
I agree with Hannah, your 5k times are always super impressive! Girrrrl you’ve got some speed! I’m glad you got a course PR and got to have fun with your fam too. 🙂
And fat Bravehart is awesome. hahah!
Ha ha, sorry! I meant to say she wasn’t even there and totally forgot! I added a note at the end. HA! And that is TOTALLY what I would have said. Although, I think it was Farmers, and after seeing J.K. Simmons (their spokesperson) in Whiplash, I am a bit afraid. LOL.
Thank you!!!!
Braveheart totally deserved to win!
No, State Farm, Rachel nailed it (and kind of freaked me out when I read that, LOL).
Ha ha ha! Ha! Ha!
Come on, that didn’t freak you out; you liked it 😉
Wahoo! Congrats on the Athena win! (And the AG and overall placings were pretty awesome too!!) I really like what you wrote on your hand- I might have to try that for my next 5k I race. It’s so awesome your family was so involved with racing and spectating! That’s so awesome 🙂 the costumes looked pretty cool too. Crazy that the race was a huge majority of women… Great for single guys 😉
Thank you! Try it! It helped me. It’s better than “push” and “pump your arms” which is what I normally tell myself 🙂
Ha ha! Never thought of a race as a place to pick someone up, b but why not? You already know you share an interest! :)a
P.S. do I have to sing the ‘Supe’ song again? You and those feet!!!!
YES!!!!
Congrats on your Athena win! That’s so awesome! I think it sounds like you made the best of a situation that you knew wouldn’t turn out the way you wanted, and got a first place out of it to boot! Nice work 🙂
Also, oh. my. gosh. Those costumes in the bottom right corner! I cannot fathom running a 5K in an inflated costume! More power to those ladies haha.
Thanks 🙂 I got what I put in with this one, and any day I can run is a good day! 🙂
Yeah, when I saw the ladies in the inflated costumes at the end of the race they looked a bit… miserable 😉
Congrats on the race! And I’m very impressed that you just wore the tank and shorts – I would have been in a puffy snow suit, no doubt!
It’s so funny to think about which races make us nervous. For some, it’s probably a longer race but the 5K is such a challenge!
Great job – and it’s always fun to read your recaps.
Thanks! Ha ha, yeah, I was reading another race report of someone running a race warmer than this and wearing pants and long sleeves, and just laughed at how different we all are with the weather!
Yeah, the long distances are usually slower and easier for me, and the 5K is full out uncomfortable pace so that makes me more nervous.
Aww, thanks!
lol… I love your mom’s advice about the woman who finished first in the division last year! Congrats on pushing through and getting that first place finish in the division 🙂 That’s awesome that the race had a costume contest and a gluten free table.
She totally cracks me up!!!
Thanks!
I thought that was super awesome, too! This RD is fab.
Big congrats on your first place award!!! That’s awesome! And you didn’t even need to take your mom’s brilliant advice about getting the insurance agent to slow down, LOL! Nice job – you CAN do hard things, most definitely!
Thank you! 🙂
Nice job on finishing first! Woo hoo, you can do hard things! Question: Why were you sure you would positive split? I figured with the wind direction, your strategy would be to go (relatively) slowly until the turn-around then turn on the jets?
Thanks 🙂
I knew without anyone pacing me, I’d start out too fast like I do at every 5K and slow down at the end… like I always do. I didn’t want to risk going too slow with the wind in the beginning. I know, it’s a bad strategy!
If only I could have been there to pace you (me and my stupid Iowa/Easter thing – ha, ha!). You did fine (#1 anyone?). I’m sure most people have the same positive split issues in all types of distances (myself included). Especially in the 5k, it is super tempting to fly from the start!
I know! Come on, Pete! LOL!!!
I think I’ve had a pacer for my 5Ks that are close to negative. My PR is from a race where I paced with someone for a mile then took off. That worked well!
Ah! That supination picture makes me cringe! It looks painful! Well done on the race and getting first in your division though!
Ha ha! Don’t worry, it’s not! 🙂 Thanks!
I Love the phrase you wrote on your hand. I recite that to myself all the time. I think I should get it tattooed somewhere as a constant reminder! You’re awesome! You could add 10 minutes to your 5K time and I still wouldn’t be able to do it! Congrats again!
Thanks! 🙂
Love that so much of your family ran this! Isn’t it cool how some races hit it out of the park on unique touches like great shirt/bib/food, etc?
Yay for the Athena win!
I loved it too! I am so happy they did! 🙂
The shirts for this race are so cool! If you saw the pic of my dad, he was wearing last year’s, which was super colorful and fun!
Kim you kicked @ss!!! Congrats on a fabulous finishing time and PR for the course 😉 Not a lot of gals can pull that off! I am bowing if you could see me. I love how you wore the basics in very nippy temps- ready for war 🙂
I love that the whole family ran – very awesome!
Great costumes were happening for sure and I agree very cool bibs, shirt and medal.
Thank you! And for the bow! LOL
Congrats Kim! Oh, and those costumes are pretty funny!!
Congratulations, lady! It sounds like you did the best you could do, and that’s really impressive. (That sounds like a backhanded compliment or something, but I’m not sure how to say it better. I mean that I’m impressed that you ran a smart race and tried hard, despite feeling like it wasn’t going to be your best day. I know I’d just be like “Meh.”) I also love how much of your family got involved and did the race too (and your mom’s proposed strategy of slowing down the insurance agent).
Do you ever think you’ll do it in a costume?
Thanks, and I am happy I did the best I could, not back-handed at all 😉 I hope my family continues to do it, even when I am not there (Dad did it solo, last year).
Hmm. This race I like to try to be competitive, so probably no costume, but I have worn a costume for a hometown race before!