Feaster Five Road Race - Run8k

I couldn't find Denise or Joe after warming up so I ended up running alone. It was crowded first 1/2 mile then eased up a bit as the 5K and 5 mile race started same time and people didn't seed themselves right.

I was supposed to tape over my HRM and not look at my splits in an effort to be neutral more specifically not judging and negative while running but at the mile markers they had time clocks so it was really impossible not to see. First mile a bit surprised at slow pace thought it might be due to the crowd...2nd mile about the same...so I concentrated on thinking about those things/people I was thankful for. Spent some time thinking about my birthmom and the birthmoms of my daughters and being thankful for life.

By mile 3 just ran with no real thoughts...decided to try to press a bit faster for last two miles. I did think of three running technique things....lean, fast turnover, and the phone booth drill I do throughout the race. HR was low for me for a race so wondered if I was pushing myself enough but today this is what I could do.

Thrilled last mile was sub 10 with a nice uphill before the finish.

Figure out where to meet up with BTers at the starting line.

We had to walk through this parking garage which wasn't great as I had to stand for awhile instead of keep walking. Got through the parking garage and it was now raining pretty hard and I was cold picked up my apple pie...wanted to get in car and couldn't find BTers or my husband. Finally found Kevin and got warm in the car.


Having had an off season and no speed work, my running pace is at what I hope will be the low point of the 2007 season.

Last year my 5 miler in much smaller race (ie no traffic) was 58 minutes (11:36 M/M)...so even though I took time off this year, I'm faster.

Best thing about the day....while sitting in the car waiting to leave, Kevin said I looked like a real runner now. When I warmed up he couldn't locate me until he picked me out by my clothes as my running technique had changed so much and there were only two people running in the area. We hadn't really talked about my work on changing my run technique other than he knew back in early October I went to a run clinic put on by my coach.

So I guess I have changed my running technique...and it is even noticeable to my husband....this is sweet!

I wasn't super fast and didn't PB but was close..had hoped to go sub 50. I've never in a running race placed so high and look I was ahead of 67 women in my AG...instead of being one of the very last folks, I was maybe front of the BOP...which I found nice!

Improvement isn't linear....I hope by next tri season to be running with better form and faster...change takes hard work but worth it.


Fun race ...wish I had run with the other BTers and we all missed Max.