Race Report: Love The Run You're With 5k

Race #1 for the season was a success. I didn't meet any "high in the sky" goals but got in a good fitness test, ran smart, and PR'd for a road 5k.

Despite what the website said about this being a flat, fast course, there was a decent sized hill in the first half mile. The rest of the way out on the out and back course was a gradual downhill, but accompanied by a strong headwind. The way back was pretty much all uphill until the last 600-800 meters also seemed pretty windy.

After getting out comfortably, I held a steady, controlled pace for the first mile. I was expecting to come in around 5:20, so when I saw 5:31 I immediately picked up the pace and realized I had been running a bit too comfortably. The second mile was better, the pace felt a lot faster and I felt more competitive as I passed a few guys who had passed me near the end of the first mile. That being said, my left shin tightened up a lot early in the second mile which somewhat negatively impacted my form but didn't seem to be a huge hindrance. I came through the second mile in 5:27 (10:59) and headed into the nearly all uphill third mile where I pushed harder. Unfortunately there was nobody near me at this point, so I chugged on alone. I hit mile 3 in 5:28 (16:27) and sprinted to the finish in 29 high for 16:57, a road PR and my first time under 17 in almost three years.

With this being my first race in three months, I'm happy. I felt pretty well recovered within about five or ten minutes, so I know I can go faster, especially if I go out faster. This is definitely a good benchmark, but I need to take it down from here. As my workouts change from fast long runs, tempos, and leg prep workouts to more structured intervals as well as more racing over the next few weeks, I should have no trouble dropping my race times drastically. Goal for the St. Patrick's Day 8k: hold my race pace from today (5:28-5:30). I've got a lot of work to do, but this was definitely a great start!

Race Results: http://www.albanyrunningexchange.org/results/search.php?ID=1472