Race Report: Parks and Rec 5k Week 2

Monday night was week two of the June 5k series. I skipped week 1 because it was 90+ degrees. No thank you. It was so much cooler this week (sarcasm font) at 83 degrees and too much humidity. I was planning to bail on the run, but somehow talked myself into just going to get some miles in. I did a two mile warm up with 4x100m strides and then did some leg swings and glute stretches. 

I started the race hoping I could be near-ish my pace from the last 5k I ran, 8:40. So when I started off in the 8:15 range I thought to myself, oops. A half mile into the race I settled into my pace a little better. I was pacing off of some 3k racers, and when they turned around I was all by my lonesome. And my pace reflected it.

Mile 1 8:46

One of my fellow SFWR was not too far behind me, so that kept me moving forward. I was in third for females and during the out and back turn around I counted to determine I was in tenth overall. At the halfway point I checked my time, knowing the course would be right around 3 even instead of 3.1 and hoped to finish around 26:40. 

Mile 2 9:06

The final mile I was all by myself so I focused on just moving forward, trying to pick up the pace during the shaded portions of the course. I was pooped and just ready to be done. I picked up the pace a little bit the last half mile to inch my overall pace under 9 minutes.

Mile 3 8:59

I ran 3.01 miles in 26:58 for a pace of 8:58.

I look forward to future weeks and hopefully more of my runner friends to show up (mostly to help push me, lolz).

Fall Parks and Rec 5k Series

The Monday after the Sioux Falls half, the fall 5k series started up again. My legs were shot from the half so I took the first night off. But I was there and ready to roll for the next week.

It was also my first race with my purple elephant tattoo for my mama. <3

September 19

2 mile warm up

1. 8:34

2. 8:54

3. 7:44 (8:42 pace)

2.89 25:13 8:44 pace

180 avg HR, 183 max HR

3rd place female

Kyle was nice enough to celebrate our one year wedding anniversary the night before so I could attend. Oops. Haha. It was more than worth it, imo, as I posted one of my best 5k paces in years. Actual years! Super consistent splits and an even faster last mile. Wahoo!

September 26

2 mile warm up

1. 8:29

2. 8:29

3. 8:23

.03 :11 (7:08 pace)

3.03 25:35 8:27 pace

169 avg HR, 177 max HR

 3rd place female

The following week I posted a faster time, but we ran the opposite direction, and I knew it was a shorter course. I just didn't have as much fight in me as the previous week. My heart rate data shows just how hard I wasn't working. Ooops.

October 3

1.  8:38

2. 8:41

3. 7:42 (8:47 pace)

2.88 25:03 8:42 pace

160 avg HR, 172 max HR

1st place female

 

The final week I went in with one goal, to post my best time of the fall for the 5k. Beat 25:35. I slacked a bit in the second mile, and then really dug deep in the third mile. 8:22!!! And then I crossed the finish line, stopped my watch, and my time was identical to two weeks ago. 25:35. I couldn't have done that if someone had offered me a million dollars to do it. Oh well. :)

October 10

2 mile warm up

1. 8:31

2. 8:36

3. 8:22

.02 :05 5:03 pace

3.02 25:35 8:29 pace

162 avg HR, 171 max HR

2nd place female

June Parks and Rec 5k Series

The Sioux Falls Parks and Rec department puts on a 3k/5k series every year, Monday nights in June and again in mid-September to early October. I've worked Monday evenings for years, but this was the first summer I didn't. I hadn't been running fast at all, so I treated the races as my speedwork. Way more fun than trying to push myself on the trail by myself!

June 6

2 mile warm up

1. 8:40

2. 8:56

3. 8:50

26:26 2.99 8:51 pace 

Some of my awesome SFWR friends!

 

 

Then one of the weeks, I convinced Emily to come and run the 3k! Isn't she cute?

June 13

.76 warm up

1.  8:43

2. 8:58

3. 8:10 (8:59 pace)

25:52 2.91 8:54 pace

And I won my AG!

 

Guess who was back for the next week?! Emily!

More fun SFWR friends! And my strongest 5k race of the June series! 8:30s?! Whaaaaa?!? And consistent. *pats self on back*

June 20

2 mile warm up

1. 8:36

2. 8:38

3. 8:36

.02 :05 5:36 pace

25:57 3.02 8:36 pace

 The final week was a blast too. And even more SFWR to chase around the bike trails!

June 27

1 mile warm up

1. 8:39

2. 8:45

3. 7:34 (8:31 pace)

2.89 24:59 8:39 pace

5k Series

My co-worker started running about a month ago, so I'm constantly on the look out for a 5k for her to run in the future. This has proved difficult because we work opposite Saturdays of each other, and I'd like to be there to run and cheer her on as well. Also, my legs can't hack racing a 5k one day and doing a monster long run the next day. That's asking for injury city.

But while I was searching, I noticed there's a 5k series that a college is putting on that has 3 different 5k races on Tuesday evenings in July and August. It's $50 for the series or $20 for each race. And I have to admit.... I'm intrigued.

I've never ran a series of races before. And I know racing a 5k during marathon training isn't all that beneficial. But I'm wondering if the 5k races could be my speed work substitute on those weeks. Hmmm. I also think running a few 5ks a couple of weeks apart will remind me what running really hard feels like, and also serve to remind me that it won't kill me. Mental toughness points, if you will.

Thoughts? 

And now some throw back pics to the summer I did 5 5ks in a four week span.