I don’t normally run a lot of 5ks, period. And I rarely run 5ks in the spring/ summer. Usually I’m too deep in training for a half, plus I’m not particularly fond of racing when it’s hot, but my first half of 2018 is still two months away.
Jogs for Jugs benefits local Breast Cancer survivors. Both my mom and my MIL are survivors. There is a half marathon and a 5k. This race used to be at a lovely location that was about an hour away, but this year it moved to the same town park my training group runs at — which just happens to be really close to where I live. Despite the forecast rain, I finally made up my mind to run it.
My thinking was this: I could meet up with the training group (at the same park!) and have to run several more miles afterwards, most likely in a cold rain, or I could just race and be done with it.
Packet Pickup
By the time I made up my mind to run the race, online registration had closed. There was Friday afternoon packet pickup, but there was also race day morning packet pickup. Guess which I chose?!
Packet pickup was easy. The tiny hiccup? Apparently they couldn’t read my writing and my results are under Julie Litt. Since I hadn’t registered early, no race tee for me (although I was able to pick one of the cotton tees up after the race).
Since I wasn’t with friends this time — and the weather wasn’t too bad, I actually did my warm up. I timed it wrong, though, and had to hang around a while before the race started, but that allowed me to chat with the friend of a friend and her friends.
My Race Plan
I did not have real plan for the race. Not go out so fast was the big plan, and I knew it wouldn’t be a problem because there’s a big old hill pretty much right where you start.
So how’d that work for me?
- Mile 1: 10:55. Maybe I could have pushed myself just a little harder this mile, but I didn’t want to run out of gas like I had in my previous 5k.
- Mile 2: 10:35. This is a pretty flat mile. I could tell when we got to the turnaround that the course was going to be short — and it was. The rain also started about halfway through this mile, but since we were already warm from running, it didn’t bother me.
- Mile 3: 10:03. The race is an out and back. So I got to fly down the big old hill on the way back.
- Last .01: 8:54. A sprint to the finish! Which is also a slight uphill . . .
31:41 — Official Time
10:12 — Average Pace
5 our of 12 in my AG
36 out of 88 runners
This is probably the smallest 5k I have ever run. Darlene @ Myfirst5kandmore keeps telling me that’s what I need to do to win an AG award. I keep saying it ain’t gonna happen. Well, it didn’t happen today. But never say never.
Nope, it still wasn’t a PR — would have been close, except the course was short — but I am much happier with this race than Cherry Blossom (read about that race here). Very nice negative splits! I’m sure those 10 x 400s on Wednesday from Coach Rachel @ Runningonhappy (and the hill) helped.
I have another 5k in a couple of weeks, but it’s much larger, very crowded, and usually quite warm. For me it tends to be a slow race. Maybe in the Fall I’ll finally PR a 5k . . .
The weather & dressing
The weather was in the low 50s with a slight breeze. When I got there I was wearing my Skirt Sports 261 Fearless Capris, Wonder Wool Tee with the Wonder Wool Jacket over it, and a hoodie over that. I took off everything (except the tee, of course!) before starting my warm up. I put on the rain coat I’d brought, and knew I’d be too warm in it. I decided the tee would be good enough and it was.
Don’t forget to use code 522CRJ for 15% off of non sale items at Skirt Sports.
Was the race well run?
Well . . . kind of. It’s the first time it was held at this location. Parking isn’t super easy — they suggested you park at the pool, which is a pretty good walk from the start. I decided to get there early (around 7:45; the race started at 9), and was able to park at the boat launch, which is a short walk to the start. Between my warm up, using the real bathrooms!, and running into several people I knew and meeting some new people, I never felt as though I was just waiting around. That and I had to register, of course.
The race started almost 15 minutes late, though. I have no idea why. Luckily it was quite a cool day so it wasn’t a big deal. Although I’m sure the half marathoners, who ended up running in rain for much of their race, weren’t too happy at the slightly late start.
And, of course, there was the slightly short course. It came out to 3.01 on my Garmin, and my Garmin is usually quite accurate. On the other hand, it was the old school timing chips you put on your shoes — no start mat. So maybe I just started my watch late? I’d like to believe it was really 3.1 because although it wasn’t a PR, the official time was quite close to my 5k PR — but considering my watch had almost the exact same time but a shorter course — and I wasn’t the only one — yeah, I don’t think so.
Would I run this race again? Yes, of course, it’s a good cause.
This week I am also joining up with Running on Happy, Suzlyfe, Crazy Running Girl, and Coach Debbie Runs each week for the Coaches’ Corner linkup
Chocolaterunsjudy 
You’re getting closer.
Inaugural races often have those kinks. I heard that it was short. They’ll probably fix that.
I see you met my friend Barbara from the training groups.
Negative splits are great. I never see those.
At least you didn’t get too wet.
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I was kind of surprised about the short course considering it was ARE timing it and there really didn’t seem to be a reason for it.
Were your ears burning? We were chatting about you. 🙂
I’ve done my share of inaugural races. This was just a new location, though, so technically not really an inaugural race. I’m kind of surprised, though, there was an awful lot going on at the park (the training group, little league).
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Hopefully you said good things. lol
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Look who’s closing in on that podium. 400’s are always a good idea when you want a fast 5k. Congrats!
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Yeah, no to the podium. Seriously, it was just a tiny race and I’m sure a lot of people skipped it because of the weather. And even so, 5th ain’t close!
It’s a good thing that AG awards are not my motivation. 🙂
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Races that are for a good cause always get a bit of a pass on other things 🙂 The starting late thing would have been tough to deal with though.
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I totally agree — it’s a good cause so if I were around next year I’d do it again.
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Nice job on those negative splits!! I’m sorry your Garmin measured short. I’ve had that happen before too and it’s frustrating. Although, never a race that actually used a timing chip thingy so that’s odd. I once ran a 5k that ended up long because the police officer manning the turn-around forgot to tell the first runner not to go around the full loop and the rest of us were like lemmings….. Oh well. Also frustrating is the late start but I’m allergic to late so that may be a personal thing. haha
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Oh, it isn’t the first race I’ve done that was short and I wasn’t the only one that noticed it. It happens, sometimes. It was just a little puzzling to me because it was a simple out & back!
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Nice job and congrats on that 5th place AG! One time I ran a 10k that ended up being 7.5 miles long. Oops!
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Wow, that is way too long for a 10k! I guess maybe I’d rather be a bit short. 🙂
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Great job rocking those negative splits!
That’s a bummer about the late race start. That’s one of my biggest pet peeves when it comes to races, but at least the race was for a worthy cause.
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The late start wasn’t a big deal to me, since it was just a 5k. I’m pretty sure I would’ve felt quite differently had I been doing the half! And oddly enough, most people were doing the half.
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I think a PR and an AG are definitely in your future. You are so close.
We have a TaTa Trot here in July but I haven’t run it yet. Don’t know if I will as it tends to be a huge event.
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Ta Ta Trot! That is also a really cool name! I don’t mind large races.
A PR maybe, AG only if no one in my AG shows up. 🙂 I mean, there were only 12 in my AG so I was very firmly still in MOTP.
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5Ks are fun but also tough! That is awesome on the 5th place AG. Oh and good job on those negative splits too.
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I agree that 5ks are tough. I have no illusions about the next one — it’s probably going to be a lot warmer & it’s very crowded.
But it’s always a fun time & you get a box of cookies (which may or may not be a good thing!).
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Nice splits Judy! With all of this marathon training and humidity …I haven’t seen paces like that in quite some time. 5th in AG is great …you’re gonna snag one soon!
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Thanks, but I seriously doubt an AG award is in my future. Too many really fast runners here and I am still MOTP — on a good day!
Marathon training is not conducive to fast paces (or so I’m told). And humidity . . . I think it might help you in your marathon, though, because hopefully it won’t be so humid there!
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You know, that’s exactly what I’m hoping!
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Ha, that race name is awesome! Sounds like a great race for a good cause. I love supporting races like that. Way to go on negative splits!
And, I hear you on doing many 5ks, I don’t do many of them myself these days.
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I do like when races support great causes!
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Those are some solid splits! And I bet your PR is within reach, too.
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Thanks, Hannah! Looks like the next 5k will be hot (usually is). I am most definitely not going for nor expecting a PR for it. But it’s a fun race — it’s the one I’ve been mentoring the training group for the last couple of months.
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