Every year our city has this 5k in August in support of Alzheimer’s Disease research. Its typically an incredibly humid race but I’m in for just about anything I can find nearby. It became an especially special race last year because it was the final race I ran before we began the IVF. Now that I’m back into training, I figured what better way to ring in running/racing again than with this same race.

Last year I finished in 23:04.

This year without knowing where I would be I said I wanted to see if I could finish in under 27:00, or just under a 9:00/mile. It was rainy the morning of the race which excited me a little because I had hoped perhaps it could cool the temperature down, or heck I’m almost always up for a run in the rain. Instead, though, all it did was make it wet and HUMID. I’m not sure hell is that humid (I’m kidding, of course).

I met up with a couple running buddies and we proceeded to take some photos (of course).

She helped me train for my first marathon
She helped me train for my first marathon

We show off our immense amounts of maturity:

Hi, we are adults
Hi, we are adults

Then we stand impatiently while there is A LOT of talking and the race begins.

I started off with a rookie mistake. Adrenaline had taken over and I was so excited that I started off too fast – like at a 7:00/mile pace – one that I couldn’t maintain for long. I finished the first mile in 7:50 and then slowed way down after that. For those who aren’t familiar, the goal is to actually start SLOWER and increase pace as you go so you don’t run the risk (pun intended) of tiring yourself out at the end. Well, I did just that – tired myself out. It still wasn’t bad though and I finished mile 2 in and 3 at a pace of 8:30 and some change and the final .1 at an average 8:00 pace which put me at an 8:32 min/mile overall and a finishing time of 25:50 (I LOVE my new Garmin watch that tells me these things – the race clock said I finished at 26:02 but doesn’t account for time taken to cross the start line).

So unsurprisingly I’m not as fast as last year, but I did better than my initial goal so I feel pretty confident I can get back there.

Then we took some end of race pictures.

We are sweaty
We are sweaty
We are also tired
We are also tired

I finally caught up with Bryant, who has been my long run partner in crime lately, for a post race photo. I instructed him to make a silly face.

Just like a man to not listen to directions.
Just like a man to not listen to directions. AND make me look retarded.

Now I’m REALLY thinking about that half marathon in October. It’s been great to get back into the running world again and I have every intention to continue to do so as much as possible.

I’m back! YAY!