Iron Girl 5k

Reach the Beach Relay is days away and Iron Girl 5k is 5 days before the relay.  Should I do it?  This race has some nice memories for me.  In 2008, I was dealing with a lot of injury problems and that whole undiagnosed stress fracture (I guess stress fractures are supposed to normally hurt a lot more) and ran this race pacing someone to a 5k PR.  I love pacing so that was fun.  Last year, I walked this race with my mom who tore up the 75-79 female age group!  Mom has a knee issue right now so wasn't up to the walk again.  It's a race just a couple miles from my house on a course I run practically every day and I had a group discount. 

Hmmm.  Well the general consensus was go ahead and race, recovery should be quick.  And yes, I've been hitting speedwork well lately and recovering fast from it.  Why not race and get my legs moving quicker in preparation for the relay?

I arrived close to the start early to pick up my bib and deliver some kale seedlings to a friend.  It was a nice morning at mid-50's, cloudy with a bit of a breeze.  I jogged over to a group photo opportunity at Coach Lesley's house with other friends.  it was a cheerful bunch and fun to hang out for a bit before an easy jog back to the start.  last year, it was so crowded I was worried about lining up.  It took a bit of weaving through the crowd but I got up to the front with some running buds.

Female only race note:  It's different lining up for a race that has women only.  No one wants to get in front!  Generally I'd seed myself behind the chunk of men at the front.  With no men to reference, it was different being so close to the front.

The race got off to a late start after some inspiring announcements.  It starts over a grassy area and with the start gets a little crazy even if I was toward the front.  I was worried about tripping as the grassy area is very uneven.  We were on the road very quickly and heading off.  The start was pretty slow so I started working to get to my goal first mile pace (7:30), my running buds were right with me I believe at this point.

At about half a mile, I saw some Coach Lesley friends cheering for us.  it was great to see them turning out even if they weren't running.  I started to feel warmed up and better in here and gradually pulled away from those running buds I'd started with.  I really hoped they wouldn't pass me later.

Mile 1 - 7:27

Nice!  And I'm feeling good.  So at this point in a short race, I generally start looking around at the people around me.  I saw a woman ahead of me with a nice stride and a brightly colored shirt and thought, well, I'll just stay even and hopefully manage to finish around her.  I kept running and gradually would catch up.  So then what?  I guess I have to pass her.  And then I did this again, and again.  Mile 2 just flew by which is very unusual for me for a 5k.  I'm usually having to argue with myself to keep running!

Mile 2 - 7:20

I'll admit that I saw mile 2 had a garmin-measured 7:15 pace attached to it at first and it freaked me out.  I slowed down deliberately because I was afraid that I'd not be able to hold the pace.  This is where the core and strength work I've been doing is paying off I think.  I"m stronger and better able to hold the pace.

female only race point:  Generally I'm surrounded by men in a race with a few women here and there.  I generally expect that the men are going to be faster than me.  Running this race with only women helped me focus on seeing who was ahead of me and passing her.  I listened to how they were breathing and generally thought, hunh, she's working harder than I am and would pass. 

The last mile was on the road and it was wide open.  There were women scattered about and I continued to pass here and there.  I just worked on maintaining  my running form and moving my arms and not looking at my watch.  I didn't want to see what pace I was running and certainly didn't want to see a lot more distance to go.  We came around the last turn and the stretch towards where I normally start my daily runs was in view.  This is it!

Mile 3: 7:20

i shouted out to my previous running coach who was standing here and caught his startled glance and a shout out to "go get 'em."  That made me snort a bit and made others around him laugh.  It was funny.  A turn and onto the grass and try not to fall and I was done!

23:14!  Yippee!  And I felt great.  25th overall and 5th in my age group.  I waited around to cheer those coming in and generally was just delighted.  I felt so strong and I've never had a 5k go so quickly.  No this isn't a PR (but it's pretty close) but mentally this just felt so much easier.

I learned something about some of the limits I'm imposing on myself too.  I assumed I'd not be able to hold a particular pace.  I assumed I'd not be able to pass those ahead of me.  Interesting and something to remember.  Check those assumptions and race, dammit!  Reach the Beach is going to be good and more importantly, i'm feeling very good about where I am right now.  It's a GREAT place to be.