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Closing out 2007 at the Race Against Time 5K

634 views 11 replies 11 participants last post by  theia 
#1 ·
A year ago at this time I was limping around badly on a then unknown broken ankle. So I didn't start off 2007 running with both feet on the ground.<br><br>
I healed, began walking, started running again on April 21st and set about to my resolution of running to be healthy and staying injury free.<br><br>
Tempted to run more? Hold on there, <b>Scratch</b>, let's be careful about the miles and how much pounding the bones take. Tempted to run faster? Again, hold on, there will be times to run a bit harder and a bit faster but let's just get the legs in shape to handle running.<br><br>
May 5th, I did run a 5K. Mostly. I had to walk a bit in the 3rd mile and it took me 37:37. That was a bit scary, the course was flat but the fact that I had only been walking around for 2.5 months made for some trepidation. The ankle did okay, I did fine and I kept running. I ran my way through another 7 5Ks prior to today, 2 10Ks, and a half-marathon. I think I've got a better handle on this running thing, on running with proper caution and management to stay injury free. But always be careful about overconfidence. Heck, my schedule for the next 4 or 5 weeks will consist almost entirely of low heart rate running.<br><br>
But today, well, let's go for it. Let's run, run hard at a 5K and see what happens.<br><br>
Safe safe goal: under 28 minutes like my last 5K.<br><br>
Safe goal: beat last 5K time of 27:49.<br><br>
Hard goal: beat 27 minutes.<br><br>
Looked like there was a big turnout today, the weather was good. Overcast and cool, not cold. The start was jumbled, it felt some like a lot of slower people started up too far up and I spent much of the first quarter mile dodging and weaving through those.<br><br>
The first mile was a lot of downhill, pretty sweet for feeling a bit speedy (hey, when you're slow like me you like it when it sometimes feels like you're running fast). I began looking for where I-95 would be on a bridge up over my head and where the first mile marker should be. There it came and I reached it in 8:14, the fastest mile I've ever seen out of my legs.<br><br>
Then it started getting tough. Most of the second mile was uphill and I worked at trying to maintain a strong feeling. It felt harsh, my legs felt abysmally slow but at least I was running and I kept at it. It felt like mile 2 was never going to show up. Finally after reaching the apex and getting to some downhill back towards mile 3 and the finish, there it was. It had taken me 9:36 to do the second mile but at least now it would be mostly downhill again.<br><br>
I tried to keep up with a guy who had passed me on the up during mile 2. For a long time that's the way it went with me slowly inching my way up closer to him. It was hurting even going downhill but I was happy about that because I knew I was giving a good effort.<br><br>
Then came the biggest surprise of the race. All of a sudden I hear my name being called and I look out to the left where <b>Theia</b> and <b>Haudet</b> had come out. Fan club. <img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif"><br><br>
Some point in here, I doesn't always keep track well of these things, but I did pass that guy in the gray top. It took 8:32 to cover mile 3, which happens to be the second fastest mile of all time for me. I tried to give some kick to the finish, but it was tough and I could see the race clock tick over 27 minutes. 50 seconds to run the last .1 miles and a finish time on my watch of 27:12.<br><br>
Thus concludes my 8 months of injury free running to 2007. 555 miles, 12 races, a 10 minute and 25 second improvement in 5K time since May 5th.<br><br>
It was a real pleasure getting to talk to those 2 crazy 30s women after it was done. I do so much of my running on my own and alone, it makes for a bit of pleasant surprise to get to have a bit of friendly talk. Thank you, <b>Alexis</b> and <b>Heather</b>. See you next year.<br><br>
Good running, good races to all.<img alt="banana.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/banana.gif">
 
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#6 ·
<b>Hooray Scratch!</b> That's a fabulous way to end the year. You have a huge fan club here (yours truly included), and I'm glad that <b>Theia</b> and <b>Haudet</b> were there to represent us. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif">
 
#8 ·
you managed to finish a hard year off with a bang, Scratch. Congratulations on a well deserved success. now stop bugging me all the time. <span style="font-size:xx-small;">jk</span>. <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif">
 
#10 ·
Yes, Delaware does have some hills, but it's fun to tease Alexis about the state being kind of flat. It is worth pointing out that the 5K courses along the riverfront area are incredibly flat, but I liked Sunday's course. It's a good challenge to get some hills.<br><br>
I'll try to be less buggy this year.<br><br>
We'll see. I hope to continue to get some improvement although obviously I won't be seeing as much this year. By the way, this guy with some pipecleaner arms and a red hat (attn Heather and Alexis) ran a 17:07 on Sunday.<br><br><a href="http://picasaweb.google.com/yophotoguy/14thRaceAgainstTime5k/photo#5150153015834710610" target="_blank">http://picasaweb.google.com/yophotog...53015834710610</a>
 
#11 ·
Way to go, <b>Scratch</b>! <img alt="icon_cheers.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/icon_cheers.gif">
 
#12 ·
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Hearing Scratch say, "Mile 2 was all uphill!" was the highlight of my day!! <img alt="biggrin.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/biggrin.gif"><br><br>
BIG congrats on your new PR. I'm so glad we were there to cheer you in! And muchas gracias for the yummy picture!!!!!!!!!
 
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