Back in 2005 when I started racing I started running 4 Mile races before I moved on to longer distances. So I before this morning I had never run a 5K before.
I had no expectations really and was just approaching as one more run or rather as one long speed work out. I am a notoriously slow starter (well, in more ways than one) and usually my body settles only after 6 or 7 miles. So the 4 mile warmup from East Harlem to the start of the race in Washington Heights with Robert would only help me out.
The race lived up to its billing as brutal. No time to think, constant acceleration. The Salsa, Blues & Shamrocks 5K (sponsored by an Irish pub in the middle of a predominantly latino neighborhood) was a tough a course with quite a number of hills. The good think was that it was an out and back race, so we knew where the uphills and downhills on the way back were. Looking at my Garmin I was pleased to learn that my mile splits kept getting faster and I finished the race at a 18:55. The last few yards were agonizing and had I had any food for breakfast I swear I would have left it on the the street.
All in all, it was not a bad way to finish a 68 mile running week. The weather was sunny and upper 40s - just amazing. Running buddies, Baker and Robert, ran faster races in the low 18s.
2 comments:
Not too shabby -- sub-19 on your first 5K. Nice work. Like anything else, the short races take a little practice. I have a feeling that you could get much better at them if you wanted to.
yeah really! blazin fast for your first 5k, although i really had no doubts that you would crush it after running with you in prior races. see you in a week or two!
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