So no pics with this post, but I had to write a quick note to follow up on a post that I wrote July about the mediocre year I was having regarding my race schedule. I've done more races than ever before this year (well, I've only really been racing for two years now, so that's not hard.) I've lost weight, been eating better, training smarter & keeping better track of how I feel and what I need to fix when something isn't right.
And yet through all of that, I still couldn't manage to have set a PR (Personal Record) in any distance this summer. It just seemed like every single race day I choked or got sick, or something happened and I wasn't feeling my best. Even during races when I felt great I still missed setting a personal best by several minutes. I know that I'm the only one who puts this pressure on myself, but I guess that's how I gauge my progress. By doing just a little better than I did the last time I know that I'm moving in the right direction. Still all summer long, each race was a bigger disappoinment than the last.
Until last night. About a week ago when I was getting my nails done, Cary (the lady that own's Jesse's salon) told me about a Twilight 5K (in memory of a girl who was killed earlier this year) and asked if I would participate. Their business was one of the main sponsors and she was trying to get every runner and run/walker she knew on board. I wasn't sure yet if I was going to be around, so I took the registration form and told her I'd try. I didn't really decide until about noon yesterday to actually do the race. Anyway I knew it probably wouldn't be my best race, the route wasn't anything spectacular, just 3.1 miles around some of the busiest intersections in town and besides with not having planned for it, I hadn't trained or eaten as well as I would have in the days leading up to it. Still since it was only a 5K I knew I'd be fine.
Last night I just registered onsite and then waited around with Cary and Lana for the thing to begin. I was just anxious to get it over with actually. I enjoy running, but it had been a busy day and we had other things planned so I was ready to get running and be done. I'm not sure if it was the busy traffic on the streets or the fact that I wanted to get home, but I found myself pushing the pace just a little more than I probably would have. I knew from my own watch that I was coming in a little faster than usual, but that was good thing. It was a short race, I knew I could push the pace for 3 miles.
Anyway I about fell over when I crossed the finish line and found out my official time. Not only was it a personal best, but it was better than my previous 5K best by more than 3 minutes. FINALLY!!!!! A decent result that reflects all the work I've put in this summer. At first I wasn't sure if I believed the time, but it's what they put on my official Finisher's Certificate, so who am I to argue? Besides, we all need a victory now and then right?
2 comments:
Woohoo! Good for you! That's exciting news.
I believe the time. You gotta be going faster without all that weight, you probably had a little extra sweetness this week which gave you energy, and you didn't think or stress over it all week. Besides, you about killed me this summer when you took me running. I thought you were smokin' fast!
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