Flashback 5k Race Report!!!

Yesterday evening, was the Flashback 5k on base. I prepared by eating a high-carb breakfast and lunch. Pasta, sweet potato, a banana, and yogurt with cereal mixed in. As race time drew closer, I was SOOOO nervous. I consider myself to be very competitive so I think that is why I get so nervous before races. It is the same nervous I would get doing the 12min run test in gym class back during my school days.

We dropped my youngest off at a friend's house, then my husband, Andy (almost 6yrs old), and myself headed to the starting point. As we arrived, I noticed how good the turnout was. Usually, the base runs are around 6:30am, often on workdays. The 4:30pm show time made it possible for more people to make it. We signed in, and walked over to the starting line.

The weather was actually decent for Guam!!! <---Did I just say that? The humidity was down around 60% and it was about 85 degrees at 4:45pm. For me, humidity is a BIG factor. It was also quite windy! It started raining a little bit, which felt nice combined with the wind.

Our plan for this race was I was going to run alone, and my husband, Eric, was going to stick with Andy. My plan was to beat my last two 5k times of 36:07 and 37:06. Under 35min would be GREAT. I was a little nervous, because I have been doing my runs on the treadmill since the last race to avoid the weather I hate so much.

Off we went. Andy took off sprinting, as usual. In fact, a lot of people took off really fast! I just found my stride and kept on moving. The rain stopped. A half-mile into the race, I seriously wanted to walk. I was not having fun. Then I said to myself, "If you can run 3 miles on the treadmill without walking, you have no excuse to walk 1/2mi into the race!" I also knew that I wouldn't have a shot at my goal if I walked. I kept on moving. I ran through the first water stop because it was too soon into the race.

I was passing quite a few people who had started off way too fast. Just over a mile in, I hit a serious wall of wind. I decided to walk a minute until I turned the corner away from the wind. At that point, I decided to run one song, then walk 1 minute. I started running again, and felt much better. I thought that if I picked up my pace a bit during the runs, it would help make up for the walking. After much effort, I passed Andy and Eric. Andy was doing the sprint/walk method. Every time I caught up to him, he would start sprinting again...LOL.

The next song ended just as we were passing the 2nd water stop. I half drank the water, threw my cup aside, and was off again. This time I felt more tired, but I was encouraged by the time/distance on my Garmin.

"A good finishing time is 5-10 seconds before you are so tired that you can't run another step." - Sulvar from Runner's World Forums

This was going through my head. I really wanted to push myself and leave it all on the course. I ran a ways further, then took another walk break. I want to say this one was a little longer; more like 1.5 minutes. I hit the turn-around on that street, and told myself that I could run the rest of the way in. There was about 3/4 of a mile left at that point.

I began to get really annoyed at a group of 3 teenagers. They were doing the same sprint/walk combo as my son. Every time they would sprint, they would pass me. Then, I would pass them a couple minutes later. Rinse, lather, and repeat, the whole race. The problem was that when they would walk, they would do it 3 across. In order to go around them, I'd have to deviate from my straight line or shout, "On your right" in order to get by. It wasn't as big of a deal earlier on in the race, but towards the end I hated expending the extra energy to get around them.

I was tired. My breathing was fine, but my legs were feeling it. I am guessing this had a lot to do with running on the treadmill so much as opposed to outdoors. The finish line seemed to keep moving further and further away. Finally, I was about 200 yards from the finish and wanted to pick up my pace. My Garmin said I did, but I felt like I had nothing left and I didn't think I went any faster.

I crossed the line, and stopped dead in my tracks. I did not want to run another step! It felt good. I felt like I had left it all on the course.

My time??? 33:32!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I SMASHED my goal! I ran a 37:06 on New Year's Day. I had a perma-grin on my face. I felt like I took 1st place...LOL. Not only did I beat my 5k times from the last two races, I beat my pre-surgery 5k time from February!!! It was one of my goals to beat that time by next month, but I never thought I could do it at this race!

So, I have a new 5k personal record that I am SO proud of. Of course, now I am thinking, "What if I had just run a little faster? I could have gotten under 33min!"

...and Andy...he ran a 37:17!!! He beat his Jan 1st 5k time by 2 minutes. :o)







We picked our youngest up, and ran to the commissary for some last minute ingredients for dinner. I already felt my legs tightening up. I thought to myself that I was going to be sore. We got home, and the stubborn me knew I hadn't done my 1 mile daily walk. Right away, I grabbed the dog and we headed out the door.

Now, this past week, my minimum mileage on running days was 3.5 miles. I figured that since I only did three at the race, I would make up for it by walking an extra half a mile. As I was almost done with that 1.5mi walk, I decided that I wanted to do 5 miles for the day. SOooooo, OCD me walked another 1/2mi. LOL. I actually think that walk helped my legs loosen back up. I am not sore today!

Eric made up some awesome carne asada. Then, it was the much anticipated Girl Scout Cookie time!!!!!! I had several, but it wasn't the cookie eating fest I pictured all week. LOL It was weird. Sure they were good, but they didn't seem to control me. I didn't feel the need to eat as many as I could. This was a big step change for me.

I have a new 5k record and the Caramel Delights did not control me. Yesterday was a GREAT day.

Friday - Flashback 5k - 3.01 mi 33:32 (PR)
2mi walk w/dog
Saturday - 1mi walk w/ dog