Race #180
5k #56
2019 Race #24
2019 5k #3
Jingle Jingle 5k #5
Months ago I decided to train specifically for this race, get my time back down closer to my PR time. When I shifted my focus to the marathon, I backed off from short speed. I had attempted too much too soon. Thus, I did not have a specific time goal when it came to this race. I picked 7:30 as my goal pace but then decided to just run as fast as I could, run by effort.
When we woke up this morning, the rain poured down just as strong as nearly all day yesterday. Great. Mom asked me if I wanted to run and I answered “yes” of course but then started to wonder since the weather channel forecasted an end to the rain in just an hour or so. I banished that thought and decided to run.
When we arrived, the rain had died off. Woohoo! I actually do not mind running in the rain if I get to start before the rain. *spoiler alert* Rain did come in the last mie.
We had to wait a couple minutes to get started because the police had not arrived. Hmm. Okay. I guess they eventually showed up but once we started running, I did not pay attention to that.
I stood entirely too far to the front although I do not regret my placement. With smaller races such as this, you have to inch your way to towards the start or you get trapped by slower, more inexperienced people behind you. This time, however, I did not accurately judge the ability of the people around me who all took off much faster than I have ever started a race.
As I started and attempted to get going my legs felt like jelly. This disconcerting feeling lasted for about a tenth of a mile before I got my legs back under me. Instead of getting into my head I focused on settling into a challenging speed and distracting myself from thinking about how much distance lay ahead. (I did not wear my flipbelt and thus did not bring my phone with me for music.)
Before the start, the race director attempted to get the crowd to sing “Jingle Bells” to mixed success. I did not join in at least not until I started running. I sang the song silently in my head as a way of marking the distance, telling myself that I could check my pace/distance once I finished or things such as that.
The first mile took far too long, mentally, to finish but I felt a bit of pleasure when I saw the split flash on my garmin.
Mile 1: 7:31
Even as I saw that time, I wondered whether I could maintain that pace or even try to accelerate a little so that I could avoid the positive splits for which most of my 5ks generate.*spoiler alert* I did not.
As I ran, I kept trying to think of Christmas songs to distract myself and could not think of the song that Jovie starts singing at the end of Elf. (Of course, as I write this recap, the song echoes in my head on repeat.) Finally, I settled on the “12 Days of Christmas” even though in the moment I could not remember some of the numbers. I just wanted the distance.
By the time I finished the “12 Days of Christmas,” I reached the halfway point. I kept pushing the pace but did not obsessively stalk my Garmin, a considerable improvement from previous races. At a few points, I felt like I had slowed down a little so I attempted to pick up the pace but not too much because I did not want to flame out.
Mile 2: 7:41 (not too far off the pace)
In the last mile, I did not look at my Garmin at all. I could feel all the work I demanded from my legs and had a feeling that I slowed down a little but I did not want to open the door to any sort of negative thoughts.
In that last mile, I focused on my mental tricks like counting and also trying to reel people in. One lady remained just out of reach as she had for the entire race. I did reel in a couple guys which felt good.
Also in the last mile, the rain returned. Likely, my pace slowed a little because I wanted to make sure I maintained secure footing on the slippery ground although that thought did not come to the forefront of my mind. Once or twice I did remember my long run from Sunday in the rain where I tried (and failed) to “tiptoe” my way around puddles since I did take a handful of “careful” steps.
When we started to come around the corner, I knew I needed to sprint as hard as I could. That one woman still ran in front of me. I knew objectively that she ran too far ahead for me to catch but I could certainly try and put on a sprint. Like I thought, I did not pass her but I got in a solid finish in the pouring rain, which also quickly let off.
Mile 3: 8:04
.1: 6:51
Overall: 23:46, slower than last year but a pretty good performance nonetheless