i’ve got to work on that last mile …
On Saturday, I ran another 5K. It was in my town for a change, so I decided to add a little extra mileage. I got up a little earlier and ran to the start, about 2.25 miles away.
I took it really slow (especially since I didn’t really give my bagel enough time to settle!), running 11-minute miles. I wasn’t so sure how this race was going to go!
I cooled down a little bit waiting for the start time, but I was feeling good. I started a little too far back in the pack but managed to pull out of the crowd and find a good pace.
- Mile 1: 8:35
- Mile 2: 8:36
- Mile 3: 8:56 … getting tired, but I managed to kick it up to a 7:10 pace for the final .1
Official finish: 26:47. New PR! As I mentioned after my last race, I really wanted to break 27. Hooray!
After chatting with friends and cooling down a bit, I jogged the 2.25 miles (again, slowly) back home, bringing my total mileage to 7.6 for the day. A semi-long run and a 5K PR, all before 10 am!
And guess what I did on Sunday?
Well I ran another 5K, of course!
Local running clubs all around our area host women-only 5Ks as part of a Women’s Distance Festival series. (Some clubs have separate races for the guys.) We have a team, and go as a group to many of the races. Our club and one in a neighboring county usually host races back-to-back, and I usually do both of them.
After my fast race on Saturday, I wasn’t planning on running too hard. I was chatting with another runner I had met before through her sister. She used to be fast, but had slowed down after an injury and was hoping for a 28-minute 5K. That sounded perfect, so I started out with her.
We felt a little fast, but not too bad. I still felt comfortable. I didn’t really realize how fast we were until we hit the first mile.
- Mile 1: 8:29
- Mile 2: 8:43 … and then we hit what felt like (and may have been) a .75-mile incline. I knew this was a tough race but I forgot that the incline went on for so long! She left me after mile 2 and finished strong. Meanwhile …
- Mile 3: 9:19 — not too bad, actually. I felt like I was crawling!
The last .1 was around a 7:30 pace, and I finished at 27:17. So much for not racing — my previous PR prior to Saturday was 27:19.
I think I’m going to skip the speed work tomorrow!
Tags: running amuck
Uncategorized, i like to run. | Lauren @ mostly i run | 11:16 pm
By Camels & Chocolate, July 14, 2009 @ 1:16 am
That's amazing! You're just PR after PR these days, woman! I've gotta confess: I've been slacking (thanks to a more hectic than ever travel schedule), and I'm TERRIFIED I have the Marine Corps in just a little more than three months!
By Camels & Chocolate, July 14, 2009 @ 1:16 am
That's amazing! You're just PR after PR these days, woman! I've gotta confess: I've been slacking (thanks to a more hectic than ever travel schedule), and I'm TERRIFIED I have the Marine Corps in just a little more than three months!
By Running and living, July 14, 2009 @ 7:46 am
Nice job with the races. I am starting to become a true believer in warm-ups. Getting the muscles ready helps you go faster quicker. Ana-Maria
By J, July 14, 2009 @ 8:25 am
Wow two races in a weekend, that is great! great job on the PR too!!
By Lacey Nicole, July 14, 2009 @ 8:59 am
congrats on breaking 27!!!!!!!!! and damn you beat your original pr again the next day?????? way to go!!!!
By Heather C, July 14, 2009 @ 9:24 am
whoa whoa! two 5Ks in one weekend?! thats definitely plentyyy of speed work. haha, nice!!! GREAT job on the PR!!! plus 2.25 miles before? that's Awesome!
By The Happy Runner, July 14, 2009 @ 10:37 am
Great job! COngrats on the PR and the second good 5k, too!
By RunningLaur, July 14, 2009 @ 8:14 pm
Great work! AND running to and from the first race – you're impressive!
By sneakersister, July 15, 2009 @ 12:59 pm
That is awesome!! Congratulations on your new PR. Enjoy that wonderful feeling and keep training strong. Great progress. When is the next race?