Memorial Day 5K

I pulled myself out of bed at 6:15 AM, getting ready for the first 5K of the summer racing season- the Memorial Day 5K at Green Cove Springs. After overcoming my early morning grogginess, I prepared my racing outfit and racing flats along with other miscellaneous belongings into my draw string bag, ready to take on the day's goal. Once my long season on the track was over, I felt I could end the 5K drought with a solid performance at today's race. My goal: the elusive sub-20 5K barrier that I have been trying to break for half a year. I felt that a sub-20 today would set me up to get a pie at Run for the Pies, and set a PR in the process. On the other hand, Dad was dreading today's 5K, being exhausted and working on four hours of sleep from the night before from grading around the clock and only two days remained on his deadline. His goal included less of breaking barriers and more of just surviving the race. The remote destination for the race was a good 40 minute drive through the countryside, as we arrived at Spring Park at 7:10 AM, giving me ample time for a thorough warm-up. Turns out that the whole 1st Coast Track Club contingent was there, and I met up with Eric and Steven upon arrival. Their goals were similar to mine, maybe a few seconds here or there but nonetheless it was shaping up to be a good race between us. We warmed up for about a mile on part of the course then headed back to strip down to our racing gear. All of us adorned matching 1st Coast TC singlets as we lined up near the front of the starting line. After doing a couple strides to get the blood flowing, I felt I was ready and took position once the Star Spangled Banner was finished. The gun went off and the crowd around us jostled for position as I filed behind Steven and ran up near the front of the pack. The key to a faster race for me was a faster first mile, a tactic that I hadn't applied well in the recent months. Once the 90 degree turn back to the start was made, the first mile marker loomed in the distance. I crossed it in 6:12, making myself a prime candidate for a sub 20 5K. I kept trying to push as the course made another 90 degree turn, having us complete the previous loop. The oppressive humidity was getting to me and to make matters worse the sun started to come out for the first time in days, making my goal harder to achieve. The second mile was at a more pedestrian pace- 6:39. By now I was being picked off by some regulars- top masters woman here, age group winner there. I put in my best effort to make the last mile faster but failed to do so, my last mile being in 6:45. My tank was empty as I manged a 40 second sprint to the finish, coming under the banner in 20:18. Steven and Eric awaited me at the finish chute. They both had phenomenal performances, Steven running a 19:58 which was only three seconds away from his PR, and Eric who took a large chunk of time off his PR by running a 19:26. I told them I took eight seconds off of my PR on a certified course, which was the 20:26 from Matanzas. The next person to greet me was Mom, followed by- Dad?! Turns out the grading caught up to him on race day causing him to drop out at mile 2, giving him a reasonable 14:20 two-mile tempo run for a dirt cheap price of $18. Due to my recent birthday, I was now in the competitive 14-19 category therefore leaving the hardware for Eric and Steven to snatch up in the 11-13 division. After lingering around for about 20 minutes with Dad pouting and whining about how he had to get back to grading, we decided it was about time to go home, even though I wanted to stick around for the pancake breakfast. But I'll save the fanfare for my next race -- the prestigious Run for the Pies where I will continue my mission to break 20 and finally fulfill this goal. Over these next weeks I will be getting extensive training with new Coach Paul McRae, preparing me for an 8K (July 4) and 5K (July 15) in CT where I will try to break into the upper echelon of 5Kers by running a sub 19 5K. These upcoming dog days of summer are where the going gets tough but as long as you can train through it and be consistent, then you will be rewarded once the fall racing season rolls around. So long and keep running!