Harpoon 5(ish) Miler 2009

I think I’ve snapped out of the slump I was in for a couple weeks.  I felt a little lost immediately after the marathon but I forgot about all the good things that go along with the decrease in training.  First and foremost, this is a great time to run all sorts of races that I can’t otherwise fit in.  To kick things off, I ran the Harpoon 5 Miler this weekend along with Barry and a group of running friends.  I did this run two years ago with less than stellar results due to a hydration issue.  This time around, I was itching to do better.

Lucky for me, I actually got the chance to beat my prior race.  You see, an alternative title for this post could have been “The Race that Almost Wasn’t”.  For those that don’t know, I am prone to being scatterbrained.  I lose EVERYTHING and I’m forgetful.  It’s a terrible character flaw, one that makes Barry absolutely crazy.  Par for the course, I arrived at the race with all items in hand except my timing chip to attach to my shoe.  This is a slightly important item to have on hand.  No chip, no time.  Without it, I wouldn’t get a race result and I may as well not even run.  I had it in my hand that morning when I got into my car and lost it somewhere between my car and the car of a friend who drove us to the race.  This resulted in much panic on my part but the kind race volunteers had mercy on me and dug up a spare bib # and timing chip so I could race officially.  Crisis averted!

Unlike 2 years ago, the weather on Saturday was perfect.  The sky was overcast and the temperature was cool.  It wasn’t a completely familiar course for me.  Due to some construction, the route was (temporarily?) slightly different and also slightly longer by 0.3 miles.  Since the race sold out in a mere 90 minutes, they also got approved for an additional 500 runners, bringing the total to 2,000.  This was evident when we lined up at the start.  There were pace signs for people to stand at but they were almost comical.  There were so many people that probably 60% of us were standing well beyond the 14 min./mile sign.  When the gun went off, you could still feel the size of the crowd.  The first mile was an exhausting exercise in dodging and weaving until I was able to get into a comfortable rhythmn and find some breathing room.

From pretty much the first mile, I was reminded of how much I hate short races.  As exhausting as a marathon is, I really do enjoy myself for the majority of it.  I smile, I talk, I wave to my family, etc.  I hate short races where you run for speed.  I just grit my teeth and pray for it to be over quickly.  This race was no exception.

I managed to stay in sight of Barry for the first 2+ miles but then he was gone and I was alone in my misery.  Since I stared at my Garmin for nearly the entire race (I’m only at what mile??) I had a good idea of how I was doing.  For nearly every mile, I hit an 8:03 pace.  I knew this was faster than my best 5K pace from December so I started to doubt my ability to hold on.  I tried to redirect my thoughts and think of anything except what I was doing at that moment.  I bypassed the water stops and forced myself onward, desperate to finish without a crash and burn.  Towards the end, I swore off races for the rest of my life.  (This is a recurring theme for me, if you haven’t noticed but I forget my vow as soon as I cross the finish line.)  I started to get nauseous and really thought I was going to lose my lunch – a clear sign that I was indeed pushing myself to the max.  Well intentioned volunteers urged us on, letting us know that we were only a few minutes away from beer and sausage.  Sausage!  Dear God!  I struggled to block out their words and keep the contents of my stomach inside.  Just in time, I turned a corner and saw the finish line ahead.  A quick little burst of speed and I was done.  Whew!  The sick feeling subsided a bit and I was free to smile and enjoy the moment.  Happily, I beat my previous time by a longshot (5 min.), even despite the extra long course.  Barry rocked his race as well.  Final stats:

• Lauren:  5.3M in 42:33, Avg. Pace: 8:01, Division Place: 153/961, Overall Place: 530/1944
• Barry:  5.3M in 40:44, Avg. Pace: 7:42, Division Place: 238/694, Overall Place: 381/1944

After the race, the group of us enjoyed many (too many) beers.  Fortunately, I had to be home for my Dad’s 60th birthday dinner so it forced me to stop.  I’m just not cut out for that volume of drinking anymore.

After this race, I’m really excited to do a 5k and see what my time would be.  I never thought I’d be able to race at a 7-somthing pace but I think I might finally be at the point, at least for a 5k.  I immediately went home and signed up for one so I’ll get a chance to find out in 3 weeks.  Woo hoo!