Lutz Independence Day 5k Race Report

New PR (I think): 24:36 (we think - that's what the clock said, but Jenny had 24:34 on her Garmin, and the results aren't posted. So it could change by a degree or two).

I think it's a new PR - 6 or so years ago when I only did 5ks and didn't really keep a journal of what I did and didn't do, I might have been faster. There are some races I have done that I can't find online or have forgotten about. But since I began keeping records, this is my fastest 5k time.

That disclaimer aside: The stars were all aligned for a PR. It would have been very hard to come up with good excuses to not achieve my goal. That's both bad news and good news, when you have put a lot of eggs in one race basket.

3 weeks ago when I got my 25:15 I asked Jenny if she'd pace me in for a sub-25. She had today open already to race, because she was trying to place in her Lucy outfit to get a new outfit. Since she did that at the RAP River Run, she was all set.

When I got home today I realized there was really not any person in the whole world who could have helped me do this. No one else would have comfortably hassled me through the last mile as she did, as when it comes to being obstinate, I am a worthy opponent. Although it really sucked there for about 9 minutes, she taught me a lot and I got a new insight into why she has so successfully posted PR after PR and gotten faster and faster. It was a good insight into the mental game, which I've acknowledged again and again is my weakness.

I ate well last night, got to bed early, picked out a great playlist, got a great night's sleep. I walked Molly and rejoiced in the weather: Not ideal Independence Day weather but darn near perfect summer 5k weather, as KC predicted yesterday. It even sprinkled some over the race.

I was nervous because I knew I was signing up for some hurt, but I wasn't so nervous it was zapping me. Just a nice healthy rush of adrenaline.

I lined up in front of Jenny, so I didn't have to chase her to catch up to my pace, which we had agreed during our warm-up is difficult and demoralizing. I settled into what felt like a very comfortable pace. I could tell my pace was upsetting Jenny but I could not figure out why, until she started warning me to back off. Back off? That didn't seem right. At the 1-mile mark I heard the timer calling off thirties. I thought, Crap, that's not good - that's either 8 thirties or 7 thirties - too slow or too fast. He called 7:34 as I ran by. Too fast. I said, "I wish I hadn't heard that" and I think Jenny nodded.

We agreed that I wouldn't stop for water, so Jenny grabbed cups and origami-ed them into neat little spouts, and told me to get what I could from them. This was more mental than refreshing, just to keep from feeling like I was dying of thirst, but not using it as an excuse to stop or slow down. I kept feeling good - I knew it was a there and back course and because people were heading back, I knew we were close to the turn. I couldn't believe how good I felt and even started wondering if I was selling myself short looking for the 25 minute 5k! Maybe I should try for even faster!!!

That feeling lasted until about mile 1.75, when I absolutely CRASHED mentally. I don't know what did it, but I had no thoughts that I could continue this effort for another mile+. I started chanting my "I can't"s. I started begging to walk. Jenny had already told me that walking wasn't allowed but I have a strategy - I can walk and lower my heart rate and start back faster than before!

Jenny kept on pace and I did stop and walk for a bit, but then I would see the distance between her and me opening up and I knew I had to sprint that, so my strategy was falling apart before my very eyes. We had backed off the pace at my request but my heartrate wasn't calming; Jenny told me it takes a few minutes to feel the slower pace and to be patient. Hmmm... lesson there for next time. When I back off pace usually I don't feel any better immediately, and that's when I decide to walk....

Jenny probably doesn't want me to write this because it sounds really bad in writing (or even just telling it) but the last 800-400 Jenny literally pushed me when I tried to walk. I was so ready to give up and would start to stop, and she put her hand on my back and said, "Nope! Keep going!" Though she wasn't actually PUSHING me, that cue to my brain really worked. My feet would and could not slow down with her literally keeping me on pace.

That's probably the biggest lesson I learned today - honestly, there is nothing physical preventing me from doing this, maybe even faster. It is all from the neck up. I never hurt, I was never terribly winded, I was just full of "I can't"s. I actually could not stop saying, "I can't do this" even when Jenny told me to stop it.

With .1 to go, Jenny said, "You have one minute." I kinda wondered even then if I could do it. How long does it take to walk .1? But then I realized if I wanted to get this hell over I had to just go for it, and so I did. I had not worn the Garmin, and Jenny would NOT give me my numbers, so the first time I knew for certain that I had done it - and not just barely, either! - was when I saw the time clock. I didn't even have the energy to be elated - I was thirsty and a little on the verge of being puke-y.

Next we lined up for the 1-miler. This is Gregory's foray back into racing, after his broken heel disaster of the past couple of years. This child really wants to race, but his body was really not letting him. He had wanted to do the 5k but I'm trying to build him in gradually. Jenny agreed to pace Emily for the 1-miler (she'd sworn this 5k off in last year's heat) and I told Gregory I'd stick with him. He was full of vim and vigor at first, talking smack and wasting a lot of energy talking and goofing around. Then about a third in, he started feeling the effort. He kept asking to walk. I was all Jenny-like at that point and said, "Um. Nope." so absolute that the people around us laughed. The half-mile turn around was not discernible but Emily and Jenny pointed it out on the way back. We turned and headed back. By then G was really in a bad way, so I let him walk, and showed him how to catch his breath. The last .2 is a bit of a hill and he saw that and said, "What! A hill!" I said, "It's a slope, Gegs, you can do this." He really had a hard time up that hill. With .1 to go I said, "Okay, Gregory, 100 yards left. You are Peyton Manning and you have the ball and you are going for a touchdown." He said, "Duh, Peyton wouldn't be running in for a touchdown." I said, "Okay then who are you?" He said, "Addai". I said, "Okay, you are Joseph Addai and I am a Saint." THE BOY TOOK OFF. I have seriously never seen him *ever* run so fast in all of his 12 years. I was so excited I finished with him, something the race directors asked us expressly not to do.

Emily ended up winning the 1-mile overall, and Gregory took the 12YO division.

Missions accomplished.