Half & Half Virtual Race Recap and PR!!

Yesterday morning, one of my besties, CP, and I ran G's Virtual "Half & Half" Race.  I chose the "Half 10k" option - translated 5k (for the MGs of the world - you know who you are ;-)).  So, we met up at a local High School to run a 5k on the track.  Here is a view the camera on my phone got of the track at 5a.m.

 

We had 12.5 laps to run for 3.1 miles.  It was 79 degrees with 80% humidity.  We knew by the 2nd lap that it was going to be pretty rough.  It felt like the humidity was creating resistance.  It probably would have felt the same if the wind were blowing against us accept the air was SO damp.  I couldn't breath and it felt like we were wading through water!!  It was pretty painful. 

I learned a few things on this run.  First, good friends make ALL the difference.  I have to confess that by the 5th lap, I was struggling.  If CP had not been there, I would've walked pretty soon.  She kept me going. 

So thanks, CP. Even though I run a lot slower than your preferred pace, you stayed with me.  And as it turns out, I ran faster than I normally do because you pulled me along (dragged at some points). You always motivate me and keep me moving forward - when we run together and just with life in general. I couldn't do it without ya!

The other thing I learned pretty quickly is that track running......NOT for Mrs. D.  Its just lines and lines and more lines. And its an oval - around and around and around.  NOT the most entertaining thing ever - even with your best pal next to you, it is kinda....well, boring for that long.  There isn't much to look at to distract you from the pain of the run.  And when you both hit a wall, you need more than LINES to get you through, you know? 

Now...... for the GREAT news of today!!!!   We ran our 5k with a time (for me) of 38:57.  That is a 1:36 PR from my fastest race, the Annabelle's Angels 5k I ran in September 2007.  It is a 4:05 improvement from my Comeback Race this past May!!!!   WOW!! Talk about a JUMP!!!  Perhaps that "Run Slow to Run Fast" stuff really does work, Coach T!!!   I mean, I believed it before, but now.....I BELIEVE IT!!!  FOUR minutes is a BIG improvement!

My next race, the Moonlight 4M, is 24 days away and this is definitely a great motivator!!

Here are a couple of post-race pics.... 

"I love running cross country....On a track, I feel like a hamster."
~ Robin Williams