First race of 2010: Check!

Well, I've got my first race of the year checked off my list. The Freeze Fest 5K is a race put on by our local running club and it's always in February. Hence, the race's clever title! This was my third year running it and it is always a good time.

I'm following a higher mileage/more demanding marathon training plan right now and I'm about halfway through. While I'm doing ok with it, I can definitely feel the fatigue in my legs. Carrie and I ran 12 miles on Friday (the day before the 5K). This isn't ideal, but it's more important to me to get the long run in. Both of us were tired and just took the 12 miler nice and easy.

When I woke up on Saturday for the 5K, my legs were still telling me they weren't too pumped for a run, regardless that it was only 3 miles. I stretched and headed over to the race. Well...I was running a bit late, so I had to park at the other lodge, which was a little jaunt from the lodge where the race started. I did my "warm-up" jog/sprint to the lodge to get my bib and chip.

My goal for the 5K this year is to smash 24:00. My current PR is 24:25, so this should be achievable. I won't say I thought I'd break 24:00 on Saturday, but I did hope to have even a tiny PR. However, I'm also realistic and knew how my legs felt.

As the race started, I took off at a comfortable race pace and felt alright. I hit the first mile at 7:53 and was pleased. But, I wasn't feeling like I was going to be able to maintain that pace.

I was right. Mile 2 was 8:10, with mile 3 being 8:07. My final time was 25:34, an 8:14 pace. While this isn't a PR, it's also not my worst time or anything that truly disappoints me. I ran as hard as I could and this was the result. I can honestly say that this 5K hurt - which means I didn't go into it with the most rested legs. There are plenty more 5Ks this year and I plan to reach my goal at one of them!

The other cool thing about Saturday's race was the social atmosphere afterward. I ran into so many people I knew and it was fun to find out which marathons they're racing this year and what their plans are.

Again, one of the coolest things about running is the community of it. I have recently gotten to know a girl who is in my age group at a lot of races. She saw me at my gym (and at this race) and struck up a conversation about planning a run together. It turns out she's running the same Spring marathon as me! Very cool!

Then I ran into a high school girl I used to coach in basketball. She ran with her sister and her sister's friend. It was so cool to see her and talk to her about the race. Her sister is training for a half marathon and then a full and asked if she could run with me this summer. Um, YAH!

Running has a great way of bringing people together, no matter their pace or anything else. I remember growing up playing basketball. While I loved the game, I didn't like the cliques and the snottiness of a lot of the girls on the team. And, since it's a team sport, it's sort of important that everyone gets along.

Then I joined cross country my senior year. Oh. My. Gosh. I was completely shocked at the "team" atmosphere. I honestly had NO idea that THAT was what a team felt like. The varsity girls cheered for the junior varsity girls and vice versa. And we're talking genuine cheering here. I was never made to feel different since I was new to running and just joining the team my senior year. I felt encouraged at every practice and at every meet. Most importantly, we had FUN!

The good memories I have from that ONE year of cross country far outweigh any memories I have from playing basketball for 9 years. Isn't that interesting?