Equinox 5 Mile Race

Today's race was the best race I've had in months. I wok up feeling good. My confidence was high. I wasn't nervous (which I usually am before races, for some reason). I was ready to go. I met up with my mom at the high school parking lot where we took a bus to the starting line.

Since it was just us, and we were shuttled to the start, we had to pack light and hand over our stuff to the finish line shuttle before gun time. It was chilly so we held on and did our best to stay warm as long as we could, but about 5 minutes before, time was up. No better way to make me look forward to starting! I'm just glad they started on time.

 The view was beautiful and the course was pretty easy. Rolling hills, with more downs than ups. Only a few curves banked too much for my comfort. Road traffic was minimal, and most drivers gave us wide berth.

It took me almost the entire first two miles to get warmed up and fall into my groove. That part was tough. Also, I kept expecting a big (up) hill somewhere in the first mile because of the elevation map on the website, so I was trying to take it easy so I'd be able to make it up the hill running.

Website Elevation

Garmin Elevation, Actual

Well the hill never came so I didn't push myself as hard as i would have otherwise and so even with the down hill, I didn't get a super great first mile time, although 13:47 is right along with my training. I did however, hit miles 2, 3, 4, and 5 all with my best times for each of those distances. I hit Mile 2 at 28:13, Mile 3 at 43:54, Mile 4 at 58:31, and Mile 5 at 1:13:03. My total time beat my first 5 mile race time of 1:26 and my goal of 1:15!

I was so excited, each time I passed a mile marker, looking down at my garmin and seeing another PR, mile after mile. I even ran a whole mile with out stopping (from marker 3 to 4), which is a first in many months as well. My minimum pace needed to be 17 minute miles to beat my time and I was coming in under 15 so I knew I was going to make it with no issues on that time goal. My confidence was soaring.

The race also had a 1/2 marathon course, that started 8 miles further up the hill. During my run, I kept looking back, expecting to see those runners catching up and passing me. I was surprised to not see any for almost my whole race. I guess I didn't really calculate how long it would take a fast runner to go 8 miles, plus however far I would have made it by then to catch and pass me.  I did finally get passed when around the same time I passed mile 4. I guess I just figured that I'm a slow runner, and anyone running a half marathon would be much faster and pass me easily. This did make me feel better. By the time I finished, only 7 passed me.

My mom was waiting for me at the last stretch to cheer me on and let me know I was on track to make my 1:15 goal.  She jogged in the last bit with me and cut around the finish line to get a picture of me finishing. As I turned the corner to run down the finish chute, I saw the clock read 1:13:37 and I knew I did it. My official finish time was 1:13:40, but that was gun time, and since I didn't cross the start line on GO!, I'm going with my garmin which I did start as I crossed the start line. I tend to forget to stop it at the finish line on races, but since the markers were accurate to my watch, I'm pretty confident in subtracting everything after mile 5 and calling my time 1:13:03!

I am so proud of myself for sticking to my training as well as I did, even after being sick for a week. I'm so thankful for my husbands support too. It was great to have him as a running partner.

Upcoming Races: 

5 Miler

10K

Half Marathon