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Tim Harmon Memorial 5K - Run5k


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Fairfax, Virginia
United States
RacePacket & Fairfax Co Gov't
71F / 22C
Sunny
Total Time = 32m 26s
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = F 30-34
Age Group Rank = 0/
Pre-race routine:

Coffee & cheese toast. Since this race is only 20 minutes from home and started at 8:30, I at least didn't have to be up at 4:30 for a change!
Event warmup:

Stretching and some bouncing around. Tried very hard not to laugh out loud at the folks jockeying for position at the starting line a good 10 minutes before the gun went off. I know it's strategy & all that, but it's also just a bit of an amusing testosterone fest. Was talking w/another runner who is gearing up for MCM as well and he's watching all this and said, "Wow, some of these folks are kinda...hard core, aren't they?" Indeed.
Run
  • 32m 26s
  • 3.16 miles
  • 10m 16s  min/mile
Comments:

5K's are a little odd. They are over and done much faster than I am used to, but the upside is, I don't have to worry too much about going out too fast because it's only 3.1 miles.

Managed to settle right into a nice pace right out of the start - body decided to actually cooperate for the first mile for a change. It was 71 degrees and bright and sunny at the start, which quickly turns into "Wow, it's kinda warm out here", especially since there was a nice long gradual hill to start with. Nice. But, got through that to some downhills & flats and and just really enjoyed mucking along on a pretty day. Hit mile one in 9:40. Normally this would be when I would say "CRAP!" and then try to slow down. But hey, it's a 5K! Pacing? We don't need no stinking pacing!

Just before the 1.5 mile mark, they had a water station. WOOHOO! I actually wasn't expecting one given the length of the course, but with the heat, it was quite a welcome sight. Major props to the folks working it - I have never seen volunteers more on top of getting water out, especially since they had a rather small table to work from. And they were great, telling us all how fantastic we were doing. Walked the water station like I always do and we're off again.

More hills. Not steep hills, but those rolling hills that never quite feel like they're going to end. But not too bad. Just before mile 2, one of the volunteers tells us it's all downhill. LIAR! :) Hit mile 2 in 10:36. Sweet. Decided to walk about 30 seconds, it's hot, and my pace is still WELL under 11m/miles, so I've got lots of room, since all I really want is to come in under that 11m mile mark.

Around 2.5 miles it occurs to me that I've got just over a half mile left. That's it?? That's just weird to me - but it's not a bad feeling, that's for sure. Unfortunately about this time is also when the heat rash kicks in (it's been going on for a couple days now on & off.) So, I'm hot, sweaty, and now itchy as hell. But - almost done!! Hit mile 3 in 10:33, still totally on track and then some to beat 34:11 for a total time. Go me!

Then it's up a small hill back into the government center parking lot and around a corner and the finish!! I couldn't kick out much of a sprint on this one, I was happy that I was just holding my pace in general and finished very happy.
What would you do differently?:

Other than make the heat rash go away, not a thing.
Post race
Warm down:

Grabbed a coke, walked around and stretched.

What limited your ability to perform faster:

Nothing that I can think of - I beat my 5K time from Va Run, and this is my best race pace to date.

Event comments:

A very well run & supported race. Lots of things to choose from to chow down on & drink at the finish, plus a live band.




Last updated: 2006-05-30 12:00 AM
Running
00:32:26 | 03.16 miles | 10m 16s  min/mile
Age Group: 0/
Overall: 0/
Performance: Good
1 - 9:40, 2 - 10:36, 3 - 10:33, 3.16 - 1:36. Not a chip race, everything is off the Garmin.
Course: Goes through a local office park. Lots of gradual rolling hills.
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 5
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Good
Race evaluation [1-5] 5

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2006-06-17 11:25 AM

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Elite
2661
20005001002525
DC Metro, slowly working my way to NC
Subject: Tim Harmon Memorial 5K


2006-06-17 11:54 AM
in reply to: #457412

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Member
11

Subject: RE: Tim Harmon Memorial 5K
Excellent! I aspire to those times! I liked the cheering volunteers too! Did you run over any of those hard core people at the front?
2006-06-17 12:26 PM
in reply to: #457422

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Elite
2661
20005001002525
DC Metro, slowly working my way to NC
Subject: RE: Tim Harmon Memorial 5K

Yoshi - 2006-06-17 12:54 PM Excellent! I aspire to those times! I liked the cheering volunteers too!

You're well on your way w/all the work you've been doing!!

Did you run over any of those hard core people at the front?

Nah, I figure they'll all run over each other and one of these days there's just going to be this pileup of people on the ground at the start as the rest of us go by.  

2006-06-17 7:31 PM
in reply to: #457412

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Master
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Virginia Beach, VA
Subject: RE: Tim Harmon Memorial 5K
Great race!! Congrats!
2006-06-17 8:16 PM
in reply to: #457412

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Expert
1205
1000100100
Herndon VA
Subject: RE: Tim Harmon Memorial 5K

Hey Cindy,

Great race.  I see a sub 30 minute 5k for you very soon.  You're really making a lot of progress.  Congratulations.

Ernie 

2006-06-17 8:43 PM
in reply to: #457412

Subject: ...
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2006-06-18 8:33 AM
in reply to: #457412

Expert
950
5001001001001002525
McKinney, TX
Subject: RE: Tim Harmon Memorial 5K

It was 71 degrees and bright and sunny at the start, which quickly turns into "Wow, it's kinda warm out here",

Are ya kidding me?

Great race, Cindy!  YOU ROCK!!

2006-06-18 8:47 AM
in reply to: #457728

Elite
2661
20005001002525
DC Metro, slowly working my way to NC
Subject: RE: Tim Harmon Memorial 5K
tri_it_cajun_style - 2006-06-18 9:33 AM

It was 71 degrees and bright and sunny at the start, which quickly turns into "Wow, it's kinda warm out here",

Are ya kidding me?

Great race, Cindy! YOU ROCK!!

You know, I actually thought about you as it started to get warmer and remembered that some folks would kill for 70s to race in right now.      

2006-06-19 9:24 AM
in reply to: #457412

Crystal Lake, IL
Subject: RE: Tim Harmon Memorial 5K

Another great race.  I think you need to up that pace goal to 10 min miles, at least for 5K's.

 

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