This morning I ran in the Spring Fling 5K in Cabot, Arkansas.  I wasn’t quite sure what to expect since the Little Rock Marathon was 3 weeks ago and I took the following week completely off running because of my hip injury.  I have done one speed session since then and my workouts have been all over the place.  Technically this is “peak week” for Boston so I’ve been trying to {safely} build up some mileage during this short training cycle. Not the best preparation for a 5K but I just needed to get out there and see where I was so that’s what I did.

Last night my in-laws offered to keep the three younger kids so that made getting up and out the door by 6:45 so much easier.  Cabot is just about 35 minutes from my house so it was nice getting to sleep in a little later than usual.  Abi (8) was also registered to run in the 5K.  She does a few local 5K’s every year and was hoping to break 30 minutes this time. 

While I was getting ready I couldn’t help but ask myself “why am I doing this again?” I find myself asking this question more with 5K’s than any other race.  I guess it has to do with nerves.  I’m getting a little better about it but 5k’s are so intimidating.  It would be so easy to sleep in or just work in a regular long run but I know I need to push myself… and 5K’s push me way out of my comfort zone!

Pre-race:
We did the usual pre-race stuff.  Got our t-shirts (nice dry-fit tank tops) and waited to use the restrooms in the big field house.  This particular Arkansas Grand Prix race is hosted by the Cabot Country Cruisers and they do an excellent job organizing this event.  John stayed with Abi while I warmed up on part of the course. Temps were in the low 40’s but it felt colder for some reason.  It was a little windy and overcast but I thought I would be ok with my tank and arm sleeves.  After about a mile I ran for one minute at 5K pace.  I like to do this during a 5 or 10K warm-up and whenever I do that pace feels nearly impossible.  I have to remind myself that it will feel so much more natural during the race.  After a mile and a half warm-up it was time to head to the starting line.

The race:
Mile 1- 5:45.  During the first mile I went back and forth between 1st and 2nd place with another female runner until I kept the lead.

Mile 2- 6:07.  I actually felt really good during the first half of this mile but around a mile and a half I started getting a little tired.  I did not feel this way during the 5k last month.  I could tell my pace was slowing down and I wasn’t sure how much of a lead I had.

Mile 3- 6:16.  Way off pace.  That’s all I can say about that.  There was some elevation change in this mile- first uphill then downhill and my quads were screaming.  Still, I do not need to positive split this much!

Mile 3.12- 0:40 (5:46 avg. pace). This race finished on the Cabot High School track and can I just say that I LOVE when races finish on a track.  No matter how tired I am something inside me just clicks and in my mind I am instantly back in 12th grade finishing my last lap of a race in a track meet. 

Kicking it in at the end

Final time: 18:47 (6:02 avg- garmin.) 1st female (13th overall). The 2nd place female finished in 19:18 and 3rd finished in 20:57.

Official time/ pace: 18:47/ 6:04.

Post-race:
The 2nd place female finisher and I chatted for a minute and agreed to meet up after a few minutes to cool-down together.  I headed back to find Abi who was still running.  I ran her last half mile or so with her in.  She did great.  She actually ran a 28:56- crushing her time goal!

so proud of my big girl!

Then I found Jennifer and we jogged the entire course again together for our cool-down.  She has run Boston 8 times, as well as some other interesting races so we had a lot to talk about on the run!  I love talking about running with other runners! I wish she lived closer so we could train together!

Before the awards ceremony we talked to the first place male finisher who was one of my husband’s former students at Harding.  He has been doing a lot of racing this semester including 3 recent marathons- all around 2:30 or under! He ran today’s 5K in 15:14 (4:55 avg.).  Yikes, that’s fast!

Way to go Kopec!

Abi won first place in her age division and was pretty pumped about her medal. 

Overall, great race.  I’m glad I pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I know I have a lot of room to improve when it comes to 5K’s but it’s not going to happen if I don’t periodically throw them into my training schedule- ready or not.  Great day and couldn’t be prouder of Abi for doing her best.  I hope we have many more 5K’s together.  I know the day is coming when she is going to smoke me in a race and I can honestly say I’m looking forward to it!