Ugh, guys! I was so close! I finished the Fools 5K in 21:48 – four seconds over what would have been a PR!
Sigh.
Ha ha.
It was 16°F with 8mph winds from the WNW when the race started at 9:00 (not super windy, yay!). We headed in the west, and I was glad to get the wind “out of the way” to start. I started out too fast, with a 6:40 mile, but was planning on positive splitting. I actually thought I had a buffer!
The pain wasn’t horrible, but I was definitely slowing down. I kept pumping my arms, repeating my mantras, and trying to keep my speed up. I felt like I had no “go.” The second mile was 7:01.
I slowed down even more in the third mile (even though the wind was “at my back”). The 180 turns got to me (in mile 2 and 3), and I would try to speed up coming out of them. I started doing bad “race math” like “well, if I have a 400 left and it takes me 2:00 mins to run a 400 at 8:00 pace and my watch says 19:45, I’m fine!” Ha. I focused hard on running the tangents (the road is curved), but, I didn’t (so my math failed). I finished the third mile in 7:07, and the last .15 (dammit!) in 1:01 (6:43 pace). It was 20° with 12 mph winds from the NNW when I finished.
Ugh. So close! I thought I’d have it, by a margin. Darnit!
But oh well!
I ended up being second woman overall, which came with a cash prize! That was a surprise – I won $75!
And I was first in the Athena division, so that’s cool! And 25th overall, out of 381 (very small turnout this year).
AND… a lot of my family came to spectate, and Steven of course, which I loved! It was not a warm morning to watch someone run and wait a while for awards. I appreciate them being there!
I don’t plan to race another 5K in April, or even May. I need to drop some more weight (I lost about 45 pounds for this attempt, geesh, but need to lose a bit more) and work on my pick-up and go (I was well rested this week, so that’s not why I didn’t have any – I think I need to work on turnover) before another attempt. But if the weather remains this cold, maybe I can find a 5K in thirty degree weather in June. HA!
Joanna – you were the closest guess at 21:44 – please email me your choice of $20 gift card or donation!
Other notes:
- I did a 1.2 mile warm-up, and a short .7 cool-down.
- This race is fantastically organized, and fun. There was an 80s theme and a costume contest. They had a PR bell (that I didn’t get to ring, ha ha), immediate results you could print or see online, and photos and video of the finish provided. Do this race if you’re within travel distance to Waterloo, Iowa!
- I’m disappointed I was so close and didn’t make it, but it’s my fault for relying on my watch speed and not running the tangents that well. And for not pushing as hard as I could. That I don’t have a crazy upset stomach and a intense hacking cough after the race makes me think I didn’t push hard enough! Ha! It’s only a race though. On to the next thing!
I’m sorry that you didn’t get your PR (so close!!!), but I’m glad you had a fun race with lots of support. Congratulations on the award(s)–think of all the vegan donuts you can get for $75!
What mantras were you saying? Do you repeat them, one after the other, or use one for a bit and then switch?
Thanks! And it’s all good! 🙂 It was fun and meant a lot that so many people came to support me! OMG, YASSSS spend it ALL on donuts!!!!
I was saying “You’re strong,” “focus on form,” “you trained for this, “Pump your arms,” etc. I’d do more of a carousel with them, than repeat them 🙂
A 2nd best PR with the wind and the cold temps is certainly an awesome accomplishment – Congrats! Also, $75? Wow. I might have to run it next year!
Thanks!
Right? Have you ever won money at a race before?! That was a first for me!!!
I would say with the wind and the cold (must have been the cold that addled your running math brain circuits, huh?) you did really well! Congrats on your two prizes! Although the best prize must have definitely been having so much support there, right?
Yeah, that must have been it 😉 Hee hee. Thank you! Yeah, that was the best prize! And being done with this! LOL
Sorry you didn’t get your PR but congrats on placing 2nd! That’s awesome!
Thanks!
Well done, Kim! I’m prouda you!
Thank you!
YAY! I am so happy for you this! This was such a good effort ESPECIALLY considering the cold. And congrats on losing the weight! that is also awesome! i will try to remember to email you when I get home. I have no access to email at work. BUt i have access to blogs….hmmmm….
Thank you on both accounts 🙂
Just leave this email response unread and let me know when you decide!!!
You are still super speedy!! Sorry you didn’t quite get the PR. I’m gunning for a 10k PR later this month.
Thanks! 🙂 What is your 10K PR time goal?! Exciting!
Congrats!!! Being that close to your PR, despite the wind/weather, and being older and weighing more than when you got your PR is AWESOME!!!! And you won Athena and were 2nd woman overall?! It sounds like your training was definitely on track, and I bet if you found another 5k soon (if you wanted to) you could PR.
Also that’s so cool that your whole family came out to spectate like that! 🙂
Thanks! IF I wanted to. Muah ha ha ha ha ha. If I do, it will probably be a “decide the day before” sort of thing 🙂
I thought it was cool too! So sweet of them!
Oh man, what a heartbreaker of a race! I’m sorry you just missed your PR, but congrats on still getting second and coming so close to your PR! 16 degrees at the start — oof. I’m all for cold weather races, but that sounds too cold for a PR even for me! I think it’d be tough to breathe as hard as I’m used to during a hard effort race (like a 5K) when it’s that cold outside!
Thanks! I am all about the cold weather too. This didn’t feel horrible, and I didn’t have as bad of a cough after as at other 5Ks, but I did wonder if I would have pushed harder had it been ten degrees warmer, ha!
Congratulations Kim! I know you are disappointed; however, you did an amazing job! You are strong, healthy, and look fabulous. You inspire me:)
Aww, thank you so much!!!
You are so speedy, that pace is something that would only be in my wildest fantasies. Sorry you didn’t get your PR, but oh so close!!! If you find a 30 degree 5K in June, let me know where, because I’d sign up for that one, LOL.
Congrats on the prize winnings, cash is pretty sweet! Almost as sweet as your family turning out to spectate you. 🙂
Ha! I will let you know if I find it! I mean, we had snow yesterday, so the way the weather is going…
Thanks! And yeah, I was surprised so many came (I was just expecting Steven and my parents)! So sweet 🙂
Great job! But, yeah, I totally get it – FOUR seconds!!!! I’d have a hard time letting go of that, I think, but it sounds like you ran a SUPER strong race. Also, congrats on second place – that is really awesome.
How are you feeling post-race? Hopefully you can bask in the fact that you trained and raced well and enjoy a break from that super-specific training (I know that I like that feeling of “wheeee, I can do what I want now!!!!!!” after a race).
Thanks! And thanks for getting it. It’s annoying how close I was. But, it is a sign I was on the right track!
I feel fine! Legs are definitely tired and ready for tomorrow’s rest day! I was so over the intense speedwork and am very happy to be in the “wheeee, I can do what I want now!!!!” phase!!!!!