Race Report: Race for Missions 5K

This was designated as a "fun run" meaning I didn't really care where I finished or about sitting any sort of PR. Heck, I didn't even treat this race serious and wasn't really watching my nutrition or hydration much. It was simply a race to have fun, plus my brother was going to run it with me, which this was his first 5K.

I drove the neighborhood where the race to be held and knew it was probably going to be a very challenging run with all the steep hills and that's about all the preparation I spent going into this race.

It was a somewhat chilly morning but was sort of glad it was on the cool side as I hadn't been able to get many warm weather runs in. At 9am, we were off. The first mile was mostly flat and went up and down short gradual rolling hills. By mile 2, the hills were being felt in my legs and my lungs. Mile 3 was a tough one as was the final uphill to the finish.

However despite this being a "fun run" and not taking this race seriously, I still ended up with a new PR by 14 secs. So what can I say, overall it was a great race and hope to do it again next year!

Anniversary Run

Today begins the 2nd year of running for me. This time last year I started with week 1, day 1 of the Couch to 5K program mainly because there was a sign about a 5K run/walk just 1.5 miles from my house. I passed this sign every day and decided to go for it. Yea, I only had 3 weeks but it was a run/walk so I didn't really care where I finished or if I had to walk most of it.

Well I finished that race in 47:30 which is a 15:17 average pace. It's a hard out and back course with a very steep down and up section. The first mile is down hill which makes the last mile all up hill. Today, I decided to do the very same run, although this time it wasn't a race but merely an all out training run...max effort. The weather conditions were almost identical at high 60s and sunny with very little breeze at 10 am. I decided to take on the first mile at a pretty decent pace...not too easy but not too hard either knowing the 2nd half was going to take a lot more energy. First mile, 9:11 which is a really fast mile for me! The 2nd mile was the steep down and up and I ran downhill, walked uphill. Then the dreaded 3rd mile...steep uphill and then gradual uphill the rest of the way. OMG...it was just as hard as it was a year ago! But I finished in 36:05 (11:36 pace) which is 11 mins faster so it's a really great way to see how far I've come in just 1 year.

Next Saturday, I will be racing in a church sponsored 5K in a neighborhood that is very hilly. It should be interesting if today's efforts will help with that race and I really have just one goal in mind...beat my brother who is not a runner. (His goal is to beat me). So we'll see.

Today's Workout: 5K Simulated Race
Today's Weather: 64-68°F, Sunny, 3mph Breeze

First Year Running Stats

Today is the final day of my first year of running and thought I would share some stats with you:

• I did 155 runs totaling 430.2 miles for 84 hours,12 mins and 3 secs.
• December was my longest mileage month with 51.2 miles averaging a 11:28 pace.
• November was my fastest month averaging a 11:04 pace over 39.2 miles.
• January was my fastest 5K race, the Race for Grasshopper where I finished 3rd in my age group (30-34) with a time of 32:27. It was also the coldest run and race I have ever done at just 27°F. 

My goals for 2nd of year of running:

• Sub 30 min 5K, whether it comes in training or in a race.
• Finish a 10K. 
• Finish a half marathon.
• Add 2 days of cross-training to my week...either swimming or cycling.