Saturday, August 20, 2011

The Quality of Life 5 Mile Race and a PR SMASHER!

I wasn't sure I was going to do the race this weekend, but in the end I decided to go for it.  Last weekend my legs just felt so heavy, I felt like I couldn't get my breathing under control, and my hamstrings were super tight after the 10k race Saturday and a 13 mile long run on Sunday.  I took it easy this week and did a light interval workout on Wednesday.  I did a mostly upper body and core Bodyrock.tv workout and 30 minutes on the elliptical yesterday.  I had given up hope of having a PR on this race and distance since I felt so tired last weekend.  My 10k mile splits averaged into 7:12 minute miles.  To PR in the 5 mile I would have to be under 7 minute miles.  Didn't seem like a possibility so I accepted it and decided that if I felt tired I would give myself permission to take it easy (which it not easy for me to do, so not sure I could have done it).

I DIDN"T HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT IT!

The race started and I knew adrenaline would carry me through the first part.  Last week I felt tired half a mile into it.  Today I felt like a rock star on top of the world at half a mile and right then I told myself to go for a PR.
Mile 1     6:33 minutes When I saw that I thought "Crap I went out too fast and am going to crash and burn" but I was feeling pretty good, I tried to slow it down a little, but the pace was feeling fantastic.  We were running along the side of the highway here and the road slanted a little so I started to feel the slant a little.  I was running by another girl here so finally I surged a little got ahead of her and back on the shoulder of the road where it was a little flatter.

Mile 2     6:51 minutes.  I felt a little better about this but was still worried that I was going to fast.  Overall felt really good, breathing was under control, the course was lightly downhill.  I tried to keep it around a 7 min per mile pace.

Mile 3     6:16 minutes...This might have been helped a little by the big hill we ran down.  It dropped over 300 feet spread over the whole mile.  I attacked it, decided if I died in the end then I died.  I also knew there was a hill in the last mile that would be a bit of a killer.  I also lost my ActiveBand somewhere along the hill.  I scratched at an itch and pushed it back to far and it was gone.  Bummer it was one of my favorite ones.

Mile 4     6:51 minutes.  When I hit  3.1 miles (5k) I realized that at 20:09 I had a 5k PR, but I was not running a 5k race so on I pushed.  I was starting to feel a little fatigued in my legs here, but breathing still felt great.  The course here was mostly flat with a little bit of downhill.

Mile 5     7:06 minutes I knew this would be the hardest mile.  About a quarter of a mile in to it you start going up hill.  You run uphill for a quarter of a mile.  This really hurts at this point in the race both mentally and physically.  The song that came on my iPod for that part was perfect though.  It really helped get me to the top.   It was This is War, by 30 Seconds to Mars.  I knew that if I could just get to the top I had this in the bag.    There was a slight downhill after I FINALLY crested the hill then it was straight to the finish line.

Time 33:51.  My secret goal for a PR had been to make it under 35 minutes.  I did it in under 34. That wasn't even  a super secret goal.  It didn't even cross my mind that I could do a five mile race with average mile splits of 6:43.  I amaze me.  Last week I felt like I had to fight for every step (still had a great time) and this week I feel amazing.  This is why I run.  When I feel this amazing and pull out a time I didn't think I was capable of I feel re-energized and in awe of what I can do.

I got across the finish line,  saw my Garmin time and nearly started crying.  I could hardly believe what I saw.  Granted that a majority of the race is either flat or downhill, ...AWESOME.

Speaking of awesome, check out what I got in the mail yesterday.
Right now I am kickin back in my Tommy Copper calf sleeves.  There will be a review and a giveaway coming this week.  They are awesome BTW! I even wore them in Target after the race.  I got a few strange looks and one little girl told her mom to "look at those funny socks" ha!

I thought they went with my outfit pretty well.


So I won my age group and I think I was 5th woman in overall.  My prize was a glass bottle that you can use for either hot or cold liquids and it has a strainer for making loose leaf tea.  I love it!  My Aunt is always giving my loose leaf tea and I have never had a proper strainer.  I think it is a fun and totally different prize

 All in all a great day so far.  Tonight we are taking the kids to see the rodeo and to ride some rides at the fair.  A viking on a stick btw for all who asked is a meatball that is dipped in corn batter and deep fat fried.  That booth at our fair always has the longest line. A norskie is like a flat donut covered in cinnamon and sugar found at the same booth as the viking on a stick.

How do you amaze yourself?


36 comments:

  1. Sounds like an awesome race! Great job! :)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow! Great job! ANd that's a really cool prize too.

    This morning I was amazed that I even managed to run. One hour of sleep is not nearly enough. ;o)

    ReplyDelete
  3. Go speed racer! :^)

    I like the Tommy Coppers too. I'm going to see if I can win some and if not I will buy them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. you are so awesome! Congrats on the PR and having an amazing race. You were rocking those calf sleeves lady!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Reading this recap just made my entire day!! CONGRATS GIRL YOU ARE FREAKING AWESOME!!! I am so proud of you and just so amazed. Wait to go!!!

    ReplyDelete
  6. congrats on this PR! great race!
    what a great prize!
    vicking on a stick....I'd pass on that one!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Awesome!! Congratulations!!!! I love the prize.

    Amazing myself?: not so much today... I'll tell you tomorrow after my 12 miler.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh my goodness! I am so impressed and you should be so proud of that ROCKSTAR PR!
    Well, I haven't been that amazing today but tomorrow is my first 20-miler so I'm amazed I'll even attempt it!
    :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. That is so incredible!! This post is so inspiring. It's amazing when everything just seems to fall into place and you have a great race. I love the quote "I amaze me"!

    ReplyDelete
  10. You totally rocked this race! Congrats!

    Love "Today I felt like a rock star on top of the world" and "I attacked it, decided if I died in the end then I died."

    Totally awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Whoo hoo girl! That is a killer PR! Gotta love when everything domes together to make a perfect day!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I love the way you always get your competitive juices flowing when you need them. Awesome.

    Loved your recap and your pics and will eagerly look forward to your giveaway, cause I really want some of those sleeves, too.

    You inspire me!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Awesome! I am thinking about trying compression socks.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Ummmm... can I just say that your legs are incredible? I WANT your legs.

    And congrats on the killer PR!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. dude, that is INCREDIBLE!!!! way to go!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Yes - amazing! Plus getting a prize you can use is great!

    ReplyDelete
  17. Congratulations!!! You're amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Good job on your race! Your new banner looks great! Love the picture!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Way to KILL that race! I am so proud of you! I got my compression sleeves earlier this week and have yet to take them off except to shower! So comfortable. Yesterday I amazed myself by running 18 miles without walking. And I'm still smiling about it.

    ReplyDelete
  20. Sweet compression sleeves after killing an awesome race, there's nothing better :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. wow that is amazing! and the compression sleeves are pretty neat!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Congrats on your PR! Your splits for your miles are awesome! No wonder you make it in Runner's World Magazine! ;) I also love your new header for your blog. I am behind on reading so this is the first time I see it.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Congrats on your PR! The compression sleeves are awesome.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Amazing! Congrats, what a great PR and well ran race!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Sounds like an awesome run! Good job on the PR!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, you FLEW through that race!! Great job!!! Love the new header, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  27. Wow! Way to freaking go on your PR!! that's so fantastic!

    That's why I love reading your blog....now I want to get out there and run my ass off!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Wow, what a race! You killed it out there!!!

    My favorite part of the recap is when you said "I amaze me." That is what athletics is all about, when you don't know how good you really are!

    That is a great pic of you at the finish line, whoever took that pic did a great job.

    And your blog header is awesome!

    ReplyDelete
  29. FANTASTIC PR GIRL!!! You are really getting FAST! Way to race after a big weekend last week too. Those legs must be getting springy with all these races :)

    ReplyDelete
  30. Wow!! Awesome time!! You rock! Just exploring your blog...and loving it!

    ReplyDelete

Because I love hearing from you all!