If you've read my posts you know I can really tell a story. This one is about my 5k. If you want to skip to the last 2 paragraphs I'll understand. That's where my results are. Everything else is just Grade A Story Telling.
The only times I've really run was when I was in the Marine Corps. I was used to formation runs and our 3 mile timed run being surrounded by men. This was totally different because there was a mix of men and women.
A week ago I slightly twisted my ankle on a run. I had set out for a full 5k, first time on a distance run day, and it hampered me to the point that it took 30 minutes. It was bothering me on and off all week so I was really worried about it. Even before the run I could feel it when I stepped certain ways. I attempted wrapping it but it made it worse since I was losing flexibility. Instead I took 800mg of ibuprofen before leaving the house to calm it down. It helped a lot.
We got to the starting area in a sea of people and they sounded the official start. I took off pretty damn fast, for me anyway, trying to get my way through the crowd and get some open space. It was an insane dash of zigzagging everywhere. After the first Km I had open room and I remembered what my boss had told me - find a hot ass running a little faster than you and follow it.
I see 1 in front of me and I'm happily catching it. Then I realize I'm moving faster than her and I pass. I see another up ahead and start heading for it. It's a decent ass and I stick behind it for about 2 minutes, far enough behind that it's not creepy. Mind you I have sunglasses on so it's not obvious I'm looking.
Then I see a smoking hot ass and legs with blonde hair. I stayed behind this one the longest. I'm pushing really hard to stay about 8-10 feet behind. All of the sudden my competitive nature kicks in and my legs find another gear. I start trying to pick up my pace slightly, which to this point I have been slowing down, and we end up side by side for a minute or so before I finally pull ahead.
Now I'm totally in it for myself and my overall time which was my original goal. There's no hot asses ahead, just the finish. Through my earbuds I hear "4km, average speed..." etc. from my smart watch. I know shit is about to get real as I was told the last part of this 5k is a long hill. I'm trying to keep my pace while also leaving something in reserve for this hill.
Get to the bottom of it and didn't dare look up. I remembered seeing it when we pulled in. I've driven up this hill before and it didn't seem bad. My pace remained strong, I passed a guy at the halfway point of this hill only to have him pass me 30 seconds later. My quads are on fire now, my lungs feel ready to explode, my whole body is screaming "WHY?! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"
Finally hit the top and I know this is it, I'm almost there, as soon as I enter the stadium it's a half lap to the finish. I thought as this point I'd hit the "common sense override" switch and pour every last ounce of energy into running but the hill took it completely out of me.
Finally crossed the line and I see the clock. It's reading 26:16. I see my boss who's cheering for me cause he knew my goal was to be under 28. Then I remember we were using "official" timing. Your time doesn't start until you cross the start line.
Official time was 25:57. I destroyed my goal of being under 28 minutes. This is what 5 weeks of work has gotten me. 20 years ago in the USMC my 3 mile run times were in the 24-25 minute range and this was 3.1 miles. To be able to get myself close to those times again at 40 is just awesome.
Overall I was 57th out of over 400. There were a lot of walkers since this was a cancer benefit. The top few runners had 16 and 18 minute times which is insane and I'll never be that fast. I'm not done though, gonna keep up the running and see if I can find another 5k in a few months and test myself again. For now I'm just really sore but feel good knowing I crushed that shit and I can get faster from here.