After getting warmed up and stretched out and dressed in the proper attire (shorts!), Oscar and I headed to the start line for some strides. And then, the GUN!
Off we went. It is here that I will stop to mention one thing: OUCH! Holy ouch. BIG ouch. I sort of forgot how hard racing is. Which is a good thing. Because I think if I remembered how hard it is, I wouldn't keep coming back for more! :)
Through the first 3 miles, I mostly fixated on how bad I felt. This perhaps isn't the most positive thing to think about, but it was dominating my mind nonetheless. I should also mention that the first 3 miles are rolling but net down. And that's because the last 2 miles are up. Especially the last mile - it's really up (close to 300 feet of climbing in 1 mile!). Luckily when I got to mile 3 with just 2 to go, instead of thinking of how hard I was breathing, I became quite obsessed with the thought of beating the girl that was running very closely with me. And I was also fixating on running a faster mile 4 and mile 5 than I ever have here before. I usually don't finish too strong on this course!
I'm happy to report that I achieved both of these goals - I held the girl off by a mere 2 seconds (I could hear her breathing down my back the entire way up that last hill) and I set a 43 second PR on the course, thanks in large part to the fact that I ran the last 2 miles 30+ seconds faster (combined) than I ever have before. I'm certainly not getting faster with age but perhaps I'm getting a little stronger!
It was such a fun morning. And I'm totally thrilled to be back to racing (even in low key running events) and can't wait for the next one (just 2 weeks away!).
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| Kim and I decided Frigid Five medals are roughly equal to Olympic medals. |
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| Look at this cutie I found in the parking lot. I think I'll keep him! :) |
Wow, those past years look freezing!!! Congrats on a great race!
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on the W!!
ReplyDeleteNice work Beth, looks like the run speed is coming along. That pic from 2009 is simply awesome!
ReplyDeletei agree-that pic from 09 is EPIC! congrats on a great run!
ReplyDeleteLove the 2009 picture! We got your frigid temps here in CA. It was 24 degrees when I started my 2 hour run, my lips were so numb I was slurring my words when I tried to talk. Congratulations on your frigid 5 PR! And, yes, those short running races hurt! But they hurt soooooo good :-).
ReplyDeleteI remember that 2009 photo. That was just crazy.
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ReplyDeleteOops, it ate my post! Nice job on the race. It was warmer at your race than it was at noon for my 5k yesterday here in AZ. Weird weather everywhere! :-)
DeleteWow! Congrats Beth!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
ReplyDeleteIf you need anything for St. George, shout! Hub's family lives down there, so we're planning on introducing them to the latest family member that weekend. A little 70.3 vol'ing always makes for an extra blessed weekend!
Wow - I knew it had been colder the last few years but didn't remember exactly how cold it had been! Congrats again- that's a huge PR for 5 miles!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on your new race pr and on holding that girl off in the end! You were lucky with the weather this weekend.
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