Saturday, June 19, 2010

My 5k Report (and Brian's Too!)

Friday dawned hot but not too humid, but still hot non the less.  I hadn't really been thinking when I packed my running clothes the day before and packed a black tank top which was horrible to run in.

 All smiles after the race!

We arrived at the race at 5:30pm on Friday to pick up our bib and t-shirts.  There was still quite a bit of time before the race actually started, so Brian and I sat down on the grass in the shade.  That wasn't a very good idea because my legs became really itchy.

Around 6pm we started warming up and stretching although since the temperature was 85F, I was already sweating.  As we ran, I saw lots of other women wearing running skirts and I told Brian that I must have missed the memo to wear a skirt! I really want to try and get a skirt to run in but the stores near me don't offer too many options and I am weary of buying on online because of possible sizing problems??

With 15 minutes to go before the race started, Brian and I lined up close to the start line.  Soon we were squeezed in with lots of people, mostly sweaty, shirtless men! EWW...that had to be my least favorite part of the whole race.

The gun went off and I started running.  I tend to get really competitive right about at the start of a race and pick out other girls and just start trying to track them down.  There was a girl in a pink sports bra who had elbowed her way passed me at the start and I worked to catch up to her.   I hit the first mile and past that girl; she obviously had gone out to fast and was dying.

Mile 1: unofficial man standing there yelling 6:22, my watch said 6:28

Right about 1.5 miles in I wanted to quit.  The rest of the race was a mental battle to maintain a decent pace.  The heat had caught up to me and I felt like I was going to throw up.  Since we were running through the neighborhood behind the church (St. Greg's) there were a lot of spectators from the houses who had also set up sprinklers.  Every time I would try not to run through the sprinkler but often it couldn't be avoided and the shock of the cold water would cause me to catch my breath and not be able to breathe.

Then there was a boy in front of me, he must have been in his teens, and he had an iPod on and since he was listening to his music he couldn't hear my labored breathing right behind me and decided to cut me off, almost causing me to fall over.

Mile 2: unofficial man standing there yelling 13:22, my watch said 13:35 (I think)

I knew there was a hill coming and then it would be pretty much flat to the finish.  I thought that a PR was still in reach at this point and tried to pick up the pace but couldn't.  The heat was killing me and I was still feeling sick.  I passed by some spectators who said "Keep it up Ladies" so I knew there was a woman behind me.

Mile 3: my watch said 20:54 (I think)

I started hauling it to the finish.  I really thought I could PR by a few seconds at least if I started going faster.  I must have looked like a mix between someone suffering and trying to run fast with her arms.  I had been passed by the woman who had been behind me, but then I re-passed her and ran to the finish.

Finish time: 21:41
Overall: 120/1085
Female: 13/450
Age Group: 3/40

I hobbled through the finishers shoot, trying to breathe normally and allow the volunteers to remove my timing chip.  Although it wasn't a PR, I am still happy with my time in the race.  The minutes ticked by as I waited for Brian to come in.  As he came to the finish he looked tired; the heat had really hurt him (and maybe also the lack of training...??)  His finishing time was 26:32, slower than last year but still good for him!

Now for Brian's Race recap (in his own words) -
We are NOT doing this race next year, it was too hot.  I ran, then I felt dizzy so I walked, then I ran again, then I felt dizzy again so I walked, then I saw the finish so I ran to the end.  My first mile was in 7:10 and then I passed mile two at 15:10.  It was just too hot.

His recap was much shorter than mine! It was hard to run at 7pm since I have been training in the mornings...I guess I need to start running after work a few times a week.

This race really got me thinking about why we race the same distances over and over again.  Is there a point where we stop PRing and getting faster??

Anyway - I have rambled on enough about this race! Here are some after photos!

Talk about a cheesy picture!  I got a beer mug for my 3rd place age group finish!

 Brian and I after the race!


Thanks for reading! Hope everyone has a great weekend and a good Father's Day!!

32 comments:

ihaverun said...

Great job - both of you. Running a race in the heat is HARD! You both earned a relaxing, laid back weekend. Enjoy!!!

Nicole said...

Nice job to both you and Brian!! It's been miserably hot here too!! <3

Tricia said...

great job

Anonymous said...

wooooooot awesome job! it's been tough to just run in this heat let alone race. props :)

ajh said...

Good job. A beer mug is a great prize.

Lauren @ mostly i run said...

Congrats on a great race! And hooray to useful awards! Use it with pride!

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Nice work! That is one speedy and hot 5k!

Oz Runner said...

props on the age group place...I can't imagine doing a race at that time of day during the summer here, it'd be way too hot...pretty much if you don't run before 8am, or after 9pm, your sunk...awesome time, you're speedy....

Molly said...

You did great!!! It's a whole different ballgame in the heat. How annoying about the guy with the ipod, ugh.

Anonymous said...

awesome job J....U did good!! I feel you on that heat...it's oppressive!!

Amber said...

GREAT job to both of you! And holy moly are you ever freaking speedy girl!!!

Mel -Tall Mom on the Run said...

I have never done a night run or in that kind of heat. Wowzers. Glad to hear your lungs did not cause you issues.

Wow I would NEVER elbow someone....I am glad you passed her. GREAT time!

Glenn Jones said...

There has got to be something wrong with Mother Nature. It's waaay warmer there than here! Way to get it done under some hot conditons.

And yes - us guys sometimes just have a way with words...

Anonymous said...

Congrats on placing in your age group!! Yay!
(Despite the heat too!!)

I wish I looked as fresh after a race as you do!

Jon (was) in Michigan said...

Yea! Nice job bringing home the hardware. :) A hot race like that is tough to PR and even harder to place.

I loved the report. I was right there with ya.

Amy said...

Great job J! Once I start feeling vomitous, I have to walk - good for you for pushing through and congrats on the 3rd place finish!!

Lisa's Yarns said...

Well done on the 3rd place finish! That's great - esp in the heat! Ish! That is so hot!1

Kim said...

Great job! Yikes though, that is HOT! Did you think about slowing down or would that have defeated the purpose of racing? :P

Do you have Kohl's? They have some running skirts!

Anonymous said...

Haha I loved Brians recap!

I really like running in skirts and plan to make it more of a habit. I get most of of my stuff on running warehouse dot come. Check it out!

Suzy said...

Way to go with the AG placement! It is hard to run at a different time of day, in the heat, and around all those other sweaty people. Congrats to both of you!

X-Country2 said...

Awesome job to you both!

Jeri said...

congrats on your AG award. That's awesome! I can't imagine a) running that fast of a time nor b) in that kind of heat/late in the day. You're amaaaaazing.

Marlene said...

Running fast + a hot day = NOT SO FUN!

Congrats to both of you for pushing through!

I'd kill for your 5K time!

Anonymous said...

congrats! to both of you! that is awesome!
great work.
u r soooo fast!!!

RunToTheFinish said...

running in the heat of the day is wayyyy harder than morning runs. though it's hot all day in miami, the sun makes a difference for sure.

i love my running skirt and got pretty lucky when I ordered that I just hit the right size!

Anonymous said...

Congrats! It's so tough running in the heat

misszippy said...

Congrats--nice hardware! Love Brian's race report!

Christine said...

Congrats to an awesome 5k time for both of you! Love that you re-passed the woman - You rock :)

Badgergirl said...

Congrats on the 5K guys!

Felice Devine said...

Great job! It's so hard to run in that heat.

Congrats on the AG place!

Chic Runner said...

Gah! I can't believe you can run in that heat and brian's recap cracked me up :) Congrats on another race!

Runner Leana said...

Congratulations on getting third in your AG! Ugh, 5Ks hurt....well done to both you and Brian!