Well it’s been a long time since I’ve produced a podcast – almost 3 months. There are a couple of reasons for the lack of a show; (1) I’ve been injured and have only run about five times since RR#14, and (2) I started a new job which has taken up a lot of my time. The good news for me on both counts is that the injury (Achilles) is getting better and I’ve been able to run a little. On the job-front, as I get more acclimated to the environment, I’m finding everything a little less stressful.
I should have a new RunningRamblings out shortly. In the meantime, this is just a quick post about the Kentlands/Lakelands 5K which was held this past Saturday. Since the race is just across the street from my house, I felt obligated to run. My injury is at the point where I could do that distance if I was careful, so I figured, why not?
Over 1,100 5K runners participated on the course that wound its way through the Kentlands/Lakelands neighborhoods in Gaithersburg, MD, just outside of Washington, DC. I was rather surprised that the course was fairly hilly, although it may have just seemed that way since I’m pretty out of shape cardio-wise.
My goal was to just have a good time and finish. Reinjury is not something I want to happen, so I wasn’t going to push things. The race started in waves 1-minute apart. I figured I would do around an 8-minute mile so I lined up with the second wave (7-8-min/mile). The first wave was for elite runners and, while I am not an elite runner; that is where I would have been if I weren’t injured since my 5K pace would have been 6:30-min/mile or so.
Anyway, the race started without a hitch and the first mile went by in a quick 6:52. During that mile, I started talking with a guy who was just getting back into running after a 5-6 year break. He’s been back at it for about 6 weeks and is faced with overcoming a sedentary lifestyle and smoking, which he recently kicked. Needless to say, he was in pretty good shape for the abuse he put his body through. His goal was to finish in 21-minutes.
Mile 2 took 7:10 due to some hills (upward inclines) and us falling into a comfortable pace. It was during the second mile that my lack of cardio fitness became apparent. However, at the end of mile 2, we were just around a 21-minute finish. So I decided to run with this guy as long as I could. I don’t think he had a watch, so I was pacing him. However, about a quarter mile into the third mile, I started to get winded. Instead of dragging this guy down with me, I told him that he was in good shape as long as I didn’t catch him. I wished him good luck and concentrated on getting myself across the finish.
Usually I end with a very fast kick. Not this time. It took all I had to finish the final half mile. I was actually embarrassed for myself, but I tried keeping things in perspective since I haven’t really been running much. When I finally saw the balloons marking the finish, I tried giving one final push but my tank was empty. I lumbered on and crossed the finish to see the guy I had been running with waiting for me. We congratulated each other and went our separate ways. I’m hoping he met his goal but I think he may have been off by 30 seconds or so.
Well here’s how I did: 151 out of 1,180 runners; 23rd out of 95 in my age group; with a time of 22:27 (7:14 pace). Overall I’m very happy with that and encouraged that I can still salvage some of my remaining 2008 running goals if I’m smart about it.
nice to hear fm you again Marlyn. i just finished a half this weekend, and it was not exactly fun!
Posted by: Katiebell | 09/02/2008 at 07:13 AM