The Race Report

Arizona Road Racers Summer Series Race #5 is now officially over. It was a great race. I saw Mark, Lisa and Chad. It was nice to talk with Chad for the first time.

I wanted to get a PR in this race and maybe go below 30 minutes for the first time in a 5k. Since it was an out and back course and mostly uphill going out, I wanted to make the turn around in 15 minutes. I thought I was just seconds off that mark, but I see now I was over a minute off the pace for the first half of the race. As I was ascending the mountain (I know it's not a mtn. like the Rockies, but play along with me), I kept telling myself that this was the time to work and I needed to "get half way in 15 minutes". I got thier in 16:21. On the downhill I thought I could make up lots of time. I was hoping for a 13 minute second half. But, I was gassed. I did the best I could, but that was not enough. With a mile left I heard two boys behind me say they were tired. So was I. I let them pass me and I told them they were my pacers. I needed them to bring me home. We talked about school (5th grade) and teachers. I then asked them if they were going to beat me. They said yes, but I said we'll see. I have a mean kick at the end.

With a half mile to go, I picked it up a bit and one kid said, "Is that your kick?" I laughed and said not yet. I did walk for a bit and the two boys kept going. With about 1/10 mile to go, I kicked. They had about half the distance to go to finish and I was running hard. There was a turn at the end and I couldn't run it at full speed (but I didn't crash either). My garmin told me that I was doing about a 4 minute mile at that point (wouldn't it be great if I could keep that up). I finished right behind the boys. I believe (official times not out yet), I finished under 33 minutes. A couple minutes away from PR-ing and no where near under 30.

I'm really happy with the race. My splits were in the 9's and 10's when I wasn't walking. I only took one walk break going out. Unfortunately, I took 5 on the way in. I was hoping the downhill would help me more than it did. Looking back, I did went out in 16.21 and returned in 16.35.

Now, I just have to find another race.