solar squirrel

 Sunday was the Mom’s 5k that one of the SERC ladies puts on every year.  I went into it hoping to get a PR, which I think would be anything under 21 min.  I was pretty sure that I could come close to having right under a 7-min pace, but ya never know - especially since the last time I was on the track it took me 6:30 to do my mile and that was ONE mile at max. effort.  (That was without dinner and going on 3 hours of sleep though…)

I did an easy warmup w/ some other runner friends (There were TONS of SERC runners there - way to represent, SERC!) and then lined up for the start right behind the fast people.  We started with the ring of a bell and off we went.  I was being careful not to go out too fast, since I wasn’t sure what a ‘normal’ 5k pace should feel like.  Oh, and of course I forgot my watch - AGAIN!  The first mile was 6:30.  I felt pretty good and figured I could probably hold that pace.  There was a lady in front of me and I was trying to stay with her. (I later found out she was in her 40’s!)   Mile 2 was 12:50 -I still felt pretty good and was excited that I was probably going to be under 21:00.  The last mile seemed tougher than the first 2, but I tried to maintain a consistent pace.  As we got to the track for some reason I was thinking we had to do 2 laps - so I didn’t do my usual off the hook kick until I rounded the track and saw that duh, it was just one partial lap!  I finished with a 20:27 - 6:35 pace.  It was good enough to get me 3rd in my age group, and since first and second place went to girls on the Vertical Runner team (congrats to an INCREDIBLE time, E-speed!!), I think that’s pretty sweet!  I’m also psyched because I wasn’t going all out - so next 5k I do I’ll know to push a bit harder!  Congrats to all of the SERC people who ran.  We sure are a group of FREAKS!

Training recap from last week

Mon: 4 miles 8 min pace at lunch, “Run for the Border” Cinco de Mayo race ~4 miles < 7 min pace
Tue: 2 miles easy
Wed: rest
Thurs: 4.5 miles medium pace during lunch
Fri: Cycling class 45 min - tough
Sat: 7 mile trail run
Sun: Mom’s 5k race - 3rd age group - 20:27

Totals:
run: 25 miles
bike: 12 miles
swim: none