The Fantastic Frigid 5K series is a 2 race event held in late Jan/early Feb every year, organized by the Columbus Running Company (my running store). It is always on the same course, which is nice because you really get to know it well if you keep coming back. It is always cold and windy, and the course conditions are often icy.
I am not built for speed, and overall, I prefer the longer races. 5K's are just plain hard. Still, they are interesting little races. Because of the short distance, you can really go all out, and sometimes find that you had more in you than you thought.
Two weeks ago was race #1 for 2008. I set a PR for the course, and my 2nd best 5K time ever. Still, after the race, I had the feeling that I had held something back. So I set a goal for race #2 to try and better that time.
Today was race #2. Course conditions were terrible, compared to 2 weeks ago. Clear and dry back then, today the paths were icy. Several people fell and at least 1 person wrenched his ankle pretty well.
Despite all that, I met my goal of bettering my time, by about 30 seconds. New course PR, new 2nd best ever. I'm pretty happy with that. I was still holding back a bit, I think, though the ice demanded that.
I think if I really and truly push myself, I could set a new overall PR at this distance this year. I don't really like the "oh my God, I'm gonna puke" feeling that you get, but the satisfaction of knowing that I didn't hold back more than makes up for it.
Once my stomach stops hurting, at least.
2 comments:
WTG Kris! Even though I'm currently working the C25K program, I honestly cannot fathom being able to run an entire 5K. To hear you say that longer distances are better for you makes me that much more inspired, and hoping that one day I'll have your attitude about running (right now - I hate it LOL)!
I hated running at first too, at least how I felt while running. I always liked the feeling of accomplishment afterward. It took me probably close to a year before I started enjoying the runs as they happened. I still have the occasional awful one, but mostly they are fun.
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