I’m finally getting my race recap up from the Alaska Distance Classic. It’s been five days since the race, and I think I’m still sore from the race. Oh to getting older and not being able to recover as fast. Sigh.
This race offers a 5K, 10K, and if you’re crazy like me, you can do both! I figured it would be good training for the half marathon I plan to run in a couple of weekends, so I figured why not. I only had 3 weeks of training going into this race, which is far from ideal. I knew it would be challenging, and boy was I right! I hit the wall after mile one in both races. Ha!
The 5K was first at 9:00 a.m. I was a little short on time to warm-up, so I didn’t feel prepared going into this race in more ways than one. I am usually pretty confident on race day, but I was really lacking it Saturday. I wasn’t warmed up enough, and I was terribly under trained. However, I also reminded myself that I was healthy–and I could run! And truthfully the lack of training has been out of my control with my hamstring strain this spring/early summer.
You would think after all these years of racing, I would know how to be smart and go out at a conservative pace, but nope, I still go out too fast. I can reign it in on a track/interval workout, but I can’t contain all the adrenaline on race day.
Not only did I run slow, but it was a pretty slow course as well. We ran on a lot of different surfaces going from the road to a paved path, through the university’s campus, on the sidewalk, and onto another paved trail that is curvy, rooty, and not ideal for racing on. I also had some major positive splits during the 5K, and I really hit the wall about half way through. That’s when my really labored breathing kicked in, and when that happens I literally cannot push anymore.
Mile 1 – 6:01
Mile 2 – 6:24
Mile 3 – 7:02
Official time – 20:18
Women’s place – 4th
Age group place – 1st
The start of the 10K was at 9:45 a.m., so I had about 25 minutes after I was done running the 5K before the 10K started. In between the races, I had some water and a GU, and then walked to the start.
I knew it was going to be tough starting out, and boy was I right. My legs almost locked up those first few steps, but I found them again and settled into a “comfortable” pace. Or should I say a comfortable progressively-slower pace.
Mile 1 – 6:34
Mile 2- 6:47
Mile 3 – 6:55
Mile 4 – 7:16
Mile 5 – 7:00
Mile 6 – 7:10
Official time – 43:20
Women’s place – 3rd
Age group pace – 1st
Double-up place (those who did both the 5K and 10K) – 3rd
I did what I could on this day with the fitness I had, which is all I can ask of my body. And like I said before, at least I am no longer injured, which is better than not being able to run! However, it was pretty defeating to be running my marathon race pace during a 10K. I have a lot of work to do!
Luckily my cute cheerleaders were there at the end to cheer me up. My sister-in-law (in the background) was visiting and ran the 5K. Craig cheered and took pictures for me, and Cullen played with his friends. At the end of the day, even though it was slow race (for me), it was fun to see so many people out running and supporting Special Olympics, and I love seeing familiar faces–and meeting new blog readers too!
