Berbee Derby 5K - Run5k

My goal was sub-20, but I could tell in the morning that it wasn't a reality. Still, I figured I'd give it a shot and based on the advice I received here, tried to go out slightly faster than 6:27 for the first mile, dial it back to ~6:40 for mile 2 and then do whatever I could to hold on from there.

First mile was 6:23 and I was already having some distress. Breathing was great, legs felt OK-ish, but my toes were numb and slapping on the pavement like sad little sausages. I know a 5k is not a place where people typically have enough time to create mental challenges, but I questioned my ability to keep this pace with my little toesies hurting.

Second mile was 6:40, but this was the end of the race goal. My knee (torn meniscus-written about it elsewhere) tweaked on me right past the second mile marker and I decided to stop for a bit. Walked for about 20 seconds...which actually may have helped me...and decided to pick it up again.

Not 100% sure what my third mile was, but it came out around 7:30~ish I believe. I was struggling through the knee tweak and while it didn't hurt, it took a bit out of my mentality. I should note that the 20 seconds of stopping is included in this pace, so some part of me was still trying to race even though my body knew I was done.

Last .11 miles I sprinted like a madman, only to completely hit E about 10 steps before the finish line. Still kept a 5:40 pace.

Honestly, not much. I took a lot of time off since Ironman and I essentially ran this race on no training. Well, about 80 miles in two months.

Hahahahahahaha. I tried finding my toes. Then I cooked a Thanksgiving meal for 22 people.


Probably my legs.


I love the Berbee Derby, if not for the race itself, so much as the pre-Turkey madness calm that it gives me.