Malta 5K race recap

I have been running 3-4 times a week for 3-4 miles on each run. But I haven’t done a race in a few weeks so I was looking forward to this 5K.

It was my third time running this one so I was familiar with the course.

The course is very boring…you are running around chip plants but the loops let you see the fast runners and all those runners that are behind you twice during the race.

In 2013, I finished in 29:49  (recovering from a broken foot). In 2012, I finished in 29:53 (recovering from a broken ankle). So since I was healthy, I was hoping to finish faster but still not confident based on my slow training runs.

This year, I didn’t get lost and arrived plenty early. The publicity for the race worked, there were a lot more runners this year – about 900, I think.

at the start

I am not going to be a Debbie Downer and complain about everything.

So here’s the good:

I finished at 28:47, a course PR and won 3rd in my age group – $50 gift card to the Recovery Room restaurant.

Now here’s the rest of the story:

Whatever I ate yesterday kept me up most of the night.  Then I spent most of the morning in the bathroom.

It was 75 degrees and 95% humidity at 7 am when I left for the race.  I was feeling pretty nauseous and the weather didn’t help.

Last year, there was chip timing so I didn’t start close to the front.

It was very crowded at beginning and hard to get moving.

Once I started running, I actually felt better.

But boy was it humid.  I was sweating and I don’t usually sweat. I was almost hoping that it would start to rain.  That never happened. The sun even came out at times.

As usual, I went out faster than I should have.  I think I hope to PR and am delusional about my speed.

I was dying at the halfway point and luckily there was water.  I walked for a while knowing that my first mile was fast.

I walked twice more during the 2nd mile…one time was at that same water stop.

I don’t look as bad as I felt

By mile 3, I was really struggling.  I think it was the humidity that was making it hard for me to breathe.  So I walked once more.

I was not disappointed in my walking.  I knew that I had to or I would be sick.

I normally can sprint across the finish line but this time, I just ran.

I am dripping of sweat.

There was a lot to eat but the best part was 2 kinds of chocolate milk.

I bumped into several runners that I knew and hung around with them until they had the awards.

I was surprised that I won. (And they didn’t have net times this year.)

Splits:

mile 1- 8:51
mile 2 – 9:22
mile 3 – 9:43
.1 – 7:30

So positive splits but that’s the way it is with me! I’m ok with it.

I was possibly going to continue north to the lake or to the river but I was so sweaty and tired that I drove back home to take a shower, eat and watch the semi-finals of the US Open.

Race Goals:

• run each mile under 10 min. YES!
• run the whole thing – NO!! walked 4 X
• set a course PR – YES!
• win a age group award – YES, 3rd.
• have fun & stay healthy – YES!

No races scheduled until a 5K on Sept 28…but that could change.

Happy Running! Any running/racing plans for the weekend?