Hangin' Loose

This one I didnt decide what distance I was going to do until the morning of. They had a 1 miler, 5k and a 10k. We had the girls over the weekend and they have been begging me to run another race with them. So when we heard about this local race we decided to run it. As it was before signing up my wife and 3 daughters were going to do the 1 miler and I was going to do the 5k. But once Marissa found out they were giving out tropheys for the winners only for the 5k and 10k she quickly changed her mind and joined me on the 5k. Only problem was that it was windy and quite rainy. So as we were waiting for the races to get underway. We tried hidding under trees and building for some protection from the race. And noticed a guy I thought I knew from the blog in his Boston jacket. Yep it was Walter from the blog whos best marathon was a 2:40 at SGM so there goes any chance of taking home the big trophey for me.

But that wasnt really my goal. My goal coming into this race was just to see where I am at so I can judge what I should be able to do at Ogden here in 2 weeks. I planned on doing a 7:00 for the first mile and slowly increase to the finish was the goal. Only problem was for the most part that it was slight uphills for the first 2 or so with slight downhills. The good thing was though I knew this area well since I lived a stone throw away from it. So after getting registered we went and hit the restrooms at my parents house about a mile away. And so I warmed up by running from my parents back to start. The race had loops on it. With the 10k starting first(61 people in it) and then a bit later the 5k(250 or so of us).

The gun went off and we were off. Marissa wanted to run with me but I urged her to try and run a smart race since I was going to be running alot faster. I resisted the urge to take off even though I felt warmed up for say I was still not warm yet. As usual there was alot of people taking off really fast at first and within the first mile I past them back up with a few exceptions. I dont know why but for the first mile I was actually tring to aviod all the puddles so I wouldnt get my shoes wet. LOL what was I thinking. As we got closer to the first mile mark we went up 7800s by target. Not really a steep hill by no means but enough to get a nice flow of rain coming down it. And by the top my feet were wet. And past the majority of the one that went out to fast. I could only see about 5 ahead of me now. With what I am sure Walter and whoever might of been with him was a bit farther ahead of that. So I picked a guy that looked the strongest and went after beating him. He was about 50 yards or so ahead of me now. After a few more turns and small hills and then at the and another half a mile later. Was a aid station where 2-3 of that group of 5 that were ahead of me slowed to get a drink. Just enough for me to get by them. We rounded another corner which would be a short out and back part of the course. And about half way up this little hill Walter came speeding by me with another guy about 20 yards behind him. So I cheered him on another and I had another .2 or so before my turn around. With what looked like maybe 2 more guys ahead of me before the leaders. I figure I was around 5th place here overall. And with just a HS kid and the guy I wanted to beat to go. We had caught up to the HS kid right around the turn around point and I got around him with the other guy about 10 yards ahead of me now. And he was holding strong there. Yet here was where I had the advantage. Since when I started running I lived just a stone throw away from here. This portion of the race I had ran many times. And that area there was were I would start my sprint to the end to finish my runs. So that gave me some strength. Yet I knew I still had 1 mile more to go I just needed to start picking up the pace. As for my goal for the race it wasnt going as well. First mile was slower then what I wanted. And the 2nd I was wanting to increase but still save myself for the last mile to push. So here it was the time to go for it more. As we hit that area I was use to sprinting I was gaining and him fast. And by the next corner I was within a few strides on him He was speeding up faster yet I wasnt going to let him get away. For some reason time really slowed down for me right at this point. And I really was running different here. I normally run just for fun and against myself but this race I was pushing myself and this guy I have been chasing for the last half of the race. And I was going to pass him. I got up to him and it just took the wind out of his sails. It felt good but I didnt want him to quit. I didnt want him to stop now. He had helped me along and so I started cheering him on. Come on we only have .7 to go. Lets go pick it up. And he started pushing harder. We made it to the last corner and like .4 to go. But my pace was increasing even more and he couldnt keep up. I felt great and just cruised to the finish with my wife, dad and 2 girls right there at the end cheering for me. And headed back to get my daughter. She was about .7 back and ran it in with her. It was exciting and she was really tired and wanted to quit but didnt. I was so proud of her. She ended up taking 5th in her AG 15 and under. And I got 2nd in my AG and give my medal to her for her great effort. My wife and other 2 girls decided not to run since it was really coming down harder then before and quite windy. Here are the splits.

Mile 1 7:10
Mile 2 7:13
Mile 3 6:48
Mile .15 6:09

TT 22:08 AP 7:01 and 2nd AG

And so with those results I will be shooting for around a 3:30 at Ogden full with a 8:00 or so pace.

This race I felt really good about. Not so much about the paces but that I was able to hit my goal of around 7:00 and felt strong at the end. And it wasnt a fun run for me for say. I was able to push myself. It is not at where I need it to be for my BQ but its heading back that way. And I am happy with my recovery so far. Plan will be after running Ogden to start training harder and following a more set schedule with speedwork and set mileage.

Hangin' Loose

Linda Buttar's 5k