Running Notes

So for a little backstory...my PR (personal record) for a 5k was 27:46 from a 5k in May. This was a GREAT time for me. I started running in September of 2007. My first 5k in November of that year was 34:40. Seven minute improvement in one and a half years isn't too bad in my book. I will never forget the 5k that I ran last year when I was THRILLED to have broken the 30-minute mark. When I first started running that had seemed impossible.

Now, I had ZERO expectations for today. I already had a PR in May. I am running a 10k next weekend. So, I figured I would just run this race and see. This course is VERY hilly. According to Big Red, 602 foot elevation increase and 556 foot decrease. Also, today was HOT. 77 degrees F with not a lot of shade on the course. You can see why my expectations for today were so low.

According to my Garmin, I ran the first mile in 8:46. WHAT?! That is crazy-fast for me. It's the hills. As I've blogged about before, I get mad. I don't slow down, and that is what worked for me here. At every hill, I just pushed myself faster. On one of the rare flat parts, I had to remind myself to pick it up a bit.

Unofficial finish time (in other words, my watch and not the official race chip time, which hasn't been posted yet) was 27:12! A 30-second PR over my last best time. WOW! That was exciting. Now top that all off with the fact that this was the Smuttynose 5k, so guess what was being served after the race? Free Smuttynose beer! W00t!

Does it get any better? Oh wait, it does! They had a live band and free pizza, chili and wings. I had a great time hanging out in the sun, drinking a beer (or two) and eating some pizza.

So while I didn't come in first or anything like that, I did completely kill my time from last year in this race (29:28, it was even hotter last year) and got a PR!!