Jefferson Bears Jingle 5K race report

i was soooo fearful for this race! I know that sounds ridiculous, thinking about I ran  marathons this year, and this changed into a 5K, but i was now not going for walks my marathons for time. The simplest reason i used to be walking this 5K changed into to get my sub-26 time! i have mentioned before that I hate 5K's, because it feels like a without a doubt long dash--that is difficult. on the marathons, I may want to relax and feature a conversation, and no longer experience like i was going to vomit.

I selected this race as it turned into certain to be a notable small race. It started out at three:00 pm, that's a late begin for me--generally I run at eight:00 within the morning. So I wasn't positive how the time difference could have an effect on me. i really like to run on an empty belly, however I obviously wasn't going to skip breakfast and lunch to do that race. I had a protein shake for breakfast, and a lunch that i am certain changed into scrumptious however my nerves were so horrific that I ought to barely choke it down.

Mushroom soup, Ezekiel toast with sunflower seed butter, grapes, and a Cutie. i purchased Maranatha sunflower seed butter, and i like it lots better than the Sunbutter emblem. The Sunbutter brand jogged my memory of the scent of a farm, and i could not get that out of my mind after I ate it. The Maranatha logo simply tastes like sunflower seeds--yum!

anyway, it became raining all morning, and honestly windy. I stored hoping that the weather would get better earlier than the race, however it did not :(  I did not care even though, because I wasn't going to allow something prevent me from going for walks this race these days.

Beautiful day for a race

I dropped off my youngsters at my parents' house at 2:15, were given to the school and picked up my shirt and bib, and noticed that the route become the exact same avenue that I had run my 10-miler on Friday. This race turned into in contrast to another i have ever run earlier than. It become VERY small and intimate--like, anybody knew each other. i was the handiest one there without a friend or family member. i'm quite certain absolutely everyone turned into going for walks for a laugh, and i used to be the only one strolling for time. again, I did not care! i was going to get my sub-26.

Cute shirt!

i used to be bummed that it wasn't chip-timed, but as it became this sort of small race, I figured I could start on the front, so it wouldn't truly count. It became quite humorous, sincerely, at how small this race changed into--the race director had a microphone, and announced, "ok, all and sundry's right here, we are going to start. i am going to take you over to the start line now." and she actually walked/ran 1/four mile to the "place to begin"--which turned into just an imaginary line in the street. I lined up right behind the lads who appeared like that they had be going for walks pretty fast. everyone else looked like they have been walking for fun, so I didn't want to should weave around all and sundry.

The race director stated, "okay equipped? 3...2...1...pass!" She started out the timer, and we have been off. handiest one person went beyond me in the starting, so I felt like I started inside the proper spot. rapidly once we began walking, the rain really picked up and it turned into quickly pouring. i was definitely sopping wet. It became 37 stages, pouring rain, and exceptional windy. My hands had been frozen, so I pulled my sleeves over my arms, but it failed to assist lots. i peeked at my Garmin a couple of times in the starting, and saw that i used to be walking at a 6:00/mi tempo--manner too rapid! I kept reminding myself that i was walking my personal race, and i failed to should run that fast.

If I didn't get my sub-26, at least
I looked festive!

I noticed that there had been only two ladies ahead of me, so i used to be determined to hold it that manner. i have never placed in a race, even in my age group. There have been approximately 50 people in this race, so I had a good risk of having an age group award. the primary mile appeared to closing all the time. i used to be loss of life to listen the beep from my Garmin, signaling a mile.

My ft have been very, very numb from the cold and rain. It felt like i was running on rocks, due to the fact elements of my ft have been totally numb, and it changed into simply weird. I subsequently heard the beep of my Garmin, looked down, and noticed 7:58. I ran a sub-8 mile! I could sense myself slowing down, although, so I knew that might probable be my only sub-eight mile. To hit my sub-26 intention, I needed to run eight:20/mi, so that's what i was focused on. I prayed that the path would not be lengthy.

the second one mile, I had serious thoughts about quitting and turning round. My lungs have been on fireplace, i used to be SO cold that I could not stand it, and my ft were getting increasingly more numb. I may want to see the ambulance ahead, in which the turn-around factor turned into (it become an out-and-back course). After the turn round, I heard someone arise in the back of me type of loud. Then he changed into proper next to me, and he had a damn canine with him. I try to avoid dogs in any respect fees when I run because i'm scared of them, however this husky honestly appeared to be without a doubt well-behaved, and failed to even look at me. i was thankful for that, however i was nevertheless uncomfortable strolling subsequent to it.

however that man saved pace with me the complete 2d half of of the race. I attempted to pass him, but i used to be already strolling as difficult as I ought to. I kept wondering, "I can not permit a dog beat me!" I subsequently heard the beep at mile , and that i checked out my Garmin: eight:36. Shit. I knew i'd banked a while in the first mile, however i was going to need to truly push it difficult to finish below 26 minutes.

I felt like i used to be demise (did I mention how a good deal I hate 5Ks?!) I subsequently noticed the factor in which we would turn into the school car parking zone, and that i ran as hard as I ought to. I handed the fellow with the canine, however he become proper on my heels.  I heard the beep for mile 3, and saw: eight:sixteen. I could see the time clock on the end line, and it examine 25:14, so I placed the entirety I had into that final little bit, and crossed the finish "line". I assume i stopped my Garmin multiple seconds after my "actual" finish, but I wasn't positive where the road become. there was a guy there collecting tags from our bibs, and he tore mine off. I should slightly breathe, and i used to be SO relieved to be done!

Splits: 7:58, 8:36, 8:16, 7:25

The race director (who's without a doubt part of my wine membership!) congratulated me, and i ought to slightly gasp out "thank you!" I waited around for the awards, because i was quite certain i would get some thing. i was inside the top 15 finishers (because I may want to without a doubt count number them whilst i was jogging, hahaha), and that i realize i was the 1/3 woman ordinary.

The director waited for every body to finish, and that i simply kept getting less warm and less warm whilst I waited inside the gym. My teeth had been chattering so loudly, i am certain everybody ought to pay attention them. I couldn't prevent trembling, and my whole frame turned into shaking. finally, they started the awards. First, they'd an award for great costume. There weren't many those who entered for that:

the two sweet cane women won. Then they introduced the top male and top lady. They gave medals to the pinnacle  in each age institution. My age organization became 30-39. I wasn't very surprised whilst she called me for FIRST vicinity, due to the fact the race become so small, but it became nonetheless very interesting!! This was my first award i have ever gotten for a race.

i used to be completely soaked to the bone, and i desperately wanted to go away to pick out up the lads and take a scalding hot shower. but because the race become so small, all of us would have observed if I left once I got my medal, so I hung around for some extra mins ;)

normal, the race become absolutely miserable--freezing cold, pouring rain, and extremely good windy. however in spite of all those uncontrollable matters, i am satisfied I did it! I reached my sub-26 intention. and that i experienced a totally intimate race, which changed into pretty fun!