DONE!

Hey Guys,

Remember when I said I had a little goal of running 12 5K races in 12 months? 

Well, I've failed.

Because here it is, only NINE months, and I've already DONE my 12.

That's me this morning, crossing the finish line at the

Clarence DeMar 5K

South Hero, Vermont

Time: 30:12

Place: 10/16 F age 50-54

73rd female in 251 total runners

 

Thoughts:

• A year ago, I never would have dreamed I'd have done this. 
• I'm so glad I did.
• I'm not stopping now, but I have no aspirations to run longer distances.

(Warning: This attitude could change at any minute.) 

But I really do love the 5K distance because:

• Long enough for me to feel like I've done something.
• Keeps me fit enough, and complements my strength training nicely, without wearing me out and tearing me down.
• Short enough to prevent injury.
• Fun and challenge without [much] misery.
• I love the people I meet and see over and over again at the races.

All that said, this morning's racing conditions were pretty darn good, and I really DO want to improve my time. I was hoping today would be the day that I came in under 30 minutes. Damn, so close!

Just after the Mile 1 marker (at which a wonderful GMAA guy was calling out times -- mine was 9:20), my left Achilles tendon started to hurt. Since, apart from near heatstroke at last week's super-hot evening race, I have not felt any pain -- and since I hold one desire paramount: I don't.want.to.hurt.anything -- I pulled back a bit on the pace. But at the turn-around mark, the pain completely went away, and there was a lovely cool breeze. I felt like I was sailing. 

So I was a little disappointed when I got to the finish line to find that I was finishing just about at my usual pace. I seem to finish at about the same time no matter the conditions. Awful cold temperature and hilly course? Flat course, deadly hot? Flat course, not too bad a temperature, and a nice breeze? 

Same time for all of them.

Not exactly, but definitely within the same range. I'm nothing if not consistent. So I'm reliable. That's a good thing, right?! But I haven't broken 30 minutes yet. And I want to.

So anyway, I'll just keep on keepin' on. At my next 5K, I'll be in a different age category. Gulp.