Goal to be under 55 minutes hoped to be under 52:30 with secret goal of under 50 minutes. My first 5 mile race I was 58:00.

At the start within 2:30 everyone that was running passed me including the stroller moms who turned out to be runners. I worked hard at keeping positive and after about 1/2 mile I could see many runners so they weren't all pulling away plus I saw some people I thought in time I could pass:)

At mile one I was suprised and happy to see 9:47 but a little concerned that the pack encouraged me to go to fast. I kept thinking Will says the pace I run for 3 miles I should be able to go for an hour so basically I should be able to go all out the whole time.

Between mile one and two I was able to pass the heart tatoo on her lower back women...did not look good from my view point. Glad to be in front of her....4 more in sight. It is hard for me to run all out and mentally I need to be tough to push myself. Get to the half way point I thought. Mile 2 I slowed down a bit and I wondered if I really could keep this pass...came in at 10:00m/m which I was pleased with. I sort of checked my body how I was doing and what if anything would cause me to slow down. I was breathing all out very hard ...no surprise passes by me as I sound like I'm having an asthma attack and my legs felt good...good place to be.

I pass this guy he passes me back...he runs and walks....he talks to me I nod...I can't talk. At 25 minutes I figured I had a shot of under 50...really need to keep my miles close to 10 m/m. Mile three is 10:15 so I'm at exact 50 m/m pace. Need to speed up to make it..need to negative split Kathy. It gets tough here as I'm not quite in the zone, I have a slight side stitch and my legs don't want to go fast. I push knowing it just me against the clock. I pass three more people...get a nice downhill but lots of wind. Hit mile 4 10:20...darn...will really need to push it to get under 50. Bit of a hill and then downhill the last bit. Wish I had Rob with me pushing to go faster. I work on fast cadence and trying to increase my arm swings...I had almost given up at mile 4 of trying for 50, but I dig deep and push myself. Run as fast as I can...finish in 50:26...a little bummed not under 50...but wow that was fast for me...PB by 7:34...just 4 months later...nice improvement.

I felt victorious in that I pushed hard, kept positive, had my mind on the race 99% of the time and raced me against the clock all things that in the past I struggled with. I focused, kept positve and mental did well for me. I know learning that I can push myself more than I think I can will help me do so in Tris this summer. I'm trying to learn to embrace the feeling which I tend to find unpleasant when I push myself hard...as it is needed for me to go faster.



Not much...keep working on improving.

Walked around, caught my breath, ate banana, bagel, drank gatorade, water, did leg drains, won a Dunkin Donuts gift card, and went home.


The war between my mind and body...mind wants body to go faster, body doesn't. Same old...being 44, needing to lose some weight, side stitch, wind lots of it, but happy with how I did. I see sub 50 just around the corner....wohoo!! I'm getting fast!