Malibu Fitness 5K - Run5k

With a 5K PR of 19:45 done earlier this year, I was hoping to break that today, though it seemed like a stretch goal. I would have been happy to just break 20 minutes again. Having never cracked that 20 minute barrier prior to this year, I had done it four times now.

I lined up behind a bunch of high school kids in track singlets. I knew they'd smoke me (they took most of the top 20 spots). I wasn't racing them though, I was racing the clock. I kept a steady effort for the first half of the race with my pace in the 6:15 range. Knowing a 20 minute finish was 6:27 pace, I just tried to stay under that. I was not pushing hard for a 5K, as I didn't want to blow up and cost myself a sub-20. I was in only mild discomfort. As the race got into mile 3, I knew a fade wasn't going to happen and I was surprised to be keeping this pace up. I even managed to speed up the last half mile.

I had been checking my pace but not my time. As I approached the finish line with a hard kick from a bit of a distance, I couldn't quite make out the clock but I could see the seconds ticking in the 50's. I figured I missed 20 minutes but I was fine with that. Much to my surprise, as the clock came into focus, I was shocked to see it click from 18 to 19 minutes. I had no business running that fast. I let out a loud "WOOO!" as I crossed the finish line.

I immediately checked my Garmin, assuming a short course. Nope...3.10 right on the button. I just knocked 33 seconds off my PR and I managed a very surprising AG win, something I thought wasn't likely given prior results. I am elated with this race. I exceeded any reasonable expectation I had going into it. I got a nice trophy for the AG win too.

As well as I ran, I know I left time on the course given my conservative start. You never know what your finish time is going to be when you line up for the race, but had I known I could run a 19:12, I am confident I could have squeezed 13 more seconds out of this. At no point during this race did I feel like I was running at 5K effort. I was breathing hard at the end, but I am used to being on the verge of puking and I wasn't even close to that.

Lots of fist pumps and a call to the wife to tell her how I did.


Total lack of belief that I had this speed in me right now. Next time I will not make that mistake.


The race itself is just fine for a 5K race. It is a runner's race. It is not a big event with spectators and bands and lots of food after. It is a well organized, well managed, well marked race on a quiet, closed course with plenty of volunteer support and an open gym to hang out in before and after on a cold November day. Nice long sleeve tech shirts with a turkey on them too. Perfect for Turkey Day. I'd recommend this event to anyone looking to run a good 5K before stuffing a hundred pounds of Thanksgiving food down the pie hole.