Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Sheryl 5k Race Recap

Saturday morning I got up and met with my normal group of Yankee Runners to finish 8 miles. This was the group's last run before the Illinois Marathon next weekend. I'll be driving down the morning of the race and meeting up with other Yankee Runners and running part of the marathon with Amanda! I have some other friends that are completing the half. If you're running the race or are going to be in the area, let me know! I'd love to meet up! I haven't spectated for a marathon in a long time, and I'm very much looking forward to being on the other side of things this time around!

Saturday night my husband met up with some friends in downtown Chicago and I was looking forward to a night of rest, relaxation, and Parks and Recreation OnDemand.
yogurt parfait dessert + Tom Haverford

Then, I heard about a midnight 5k in Coal City and a few members of the FN Run Club were going to do it. The more I thought about it, the more I decided that trying to run a 5k the same day you ran 8 miles probably wasn't a good idea. But I had the 5k bug... I went RunChicagoSouth.com and looked up other 5ks in the area on Sunday.

I decided on the Sheryl Garrett Lapka 5k in Lisle. It was an inaugural race so I wasn't sure what to expect. When first arriving, some of the volunteers working registration and packet pickup seemed a bit confused, but the race director knew what was going on (so that was helpful). There weren't many frills for this race, but all of the funds generated were going to ovarian cancer research. Before a small race, I always end up sizing up the competition--seeing who might be in my age group, who looks like they'd be super fast, etc. Am I the only one who does this? I hope not, lol.
The beautiful scenery

The race started right on time, 8:30 sharp and went around the Community Park in Lisle. The park was absolutely gorgeous and it made for some wonderful scenery. I started out and was going to try to maintain my PR pace of 7:26. There were a few other females that started with me and we stuck together through the 1st mile. Mile 1: 7:28. I was happy with that. I didn't start out too fast which was awesome. The second mile I started to pull ahead of those that were around me. I didn't feel like I was picking it up, but just maintaining. Mile 2: 7:27. I couldn't be happier with this consistent split! Who is this person running a 5k? Maybe I'm actually understanding how pacing works during a race??

After the mile 2 marker, I turned a corner and saw 2 other girls in front of me (they looked to be on a high school cross country team). They seemed to be keeping together and I passed them both, continuing my consistent pace(?!). About a 1/4 mile after passing them, there came a large section of spectators cheering me on. "First girl! First girl! Way to go!" I said "What??" with a huge smile on my face. Was I really the first female right now??

At mile 2.5 I tried to pick up the pace but my legs were tired. There was no one in front or behind me on the course so I was trying to dig for some motivation to pick it up. When I turned the corner and saw the clock, that is when it hit me.
Yes, my legs really are that pale.
Source

The clock was in the 22's! I would be able to break the 23:00 barrier! I kicked it out and tried to finish strong. Heading down the final stretch, more people were cheering "First Female Finisher! You've got this! Finish strong!"
Source
Official time: 22:53 (7:23 splits). (My Garmin marked the course as only being 3.07 miles which is why my mile splits aren't consistent with my finishing time.) But I'm going to take this win and this PR and enjoy it! I am so beyond excited with this victory in so many ways. As it was a small inaugural race, they didn't announce the first female finisher during the awards ceremony afterwards, only the first finisher (let's be honest, I was kind of bummed about that). But they did have awards for the first 2 people in every 10 year age group. 

I couldn't be happier with my time, and I was happy to have gotten out there to run this race! I met my goal, but I felt like I lost motivation part way through the race. I know I have a faster time in me, and that feels awesome. Have you ever felt that way before?

Additionally, they had some Honey Stinger samples that I grabbed as I have been dying to try this brand. I ate the Berry Banana Buzz on my way home. It was delicious! However, I tasted a lot of berry and honey, but not much banana at all. Left to try: Apple Cinnamon and Peanut Butter N Honey. I'll keep you posted when I try the others.

P.S. Have you entered by Oiselle Raffle yet??

28 comments:

  1. Michel@BabyweightmyfatassApril 24, 2012 at 8:37 AM

    Congrats on a great race!

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  2. Holy crap! You WON a race! Congrats! And you broke the 23:00 barrier! YESSS!!! Now I know you can pace me in June. JK. Sort of. ;)

    I met my goal, but I felt like I lost motivation part way through the race. I know I have a faster time in me, and that feels awesome. Have you ever felt that way before?
    . I feel that way at every 5K I do. Sigh. I give up because it's so "hard."

    I am amazed by your consistent splits. You rock!

    Erin is going to be in CU for the race! She is a course marshal.

    LOL - I never think to "size up the competition." In a few races I have encouraged people in my AG to pass me, then to find out I got second because of that. No more of that.

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  3. Thanks! I still want to do the Jim Gibbons race. I know I won't place since that race is really popular, but I think there will be many more folks to help keep the motivation and competition going! I know we can do it! Does this mean that you're signing up too??? :)

    I just felt like I fizzled. There was no one in front or behind me so it was hard to self-motivate at that point in the race. If I had someone on my heels, the competitive person I am wouldn't let them pass me without a fight, for sure. Haha.

    I'll have to talk to Erin and maybe I'll see her out there!! Thanks for the heads up!

    You cracked me up with this comment. Thanks for making my morning! :)

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  4. Congratulations! Great work. I'm on the hunt for a small 5K where I can PR.

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  5. Thanks Kelly! Runningintheusa.com has a lot of different races that you can look up by county and it even provides the website. Just a thought! :)

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  6. So So AWESOME! I feel famous by default because one time i ran with you. I should have gotten an autograph!!

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  7. So you need someone to chase you to get you going! LOL! :)

    I have the race on my calendar and am thinking about it :) It will depend on what kind of shape I am in, ha ha!

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  8. When I talk to Britt on Thursday, I think I'm going to work on the Jim Gibbons as my goal 5k and the Rock N Roll as my next goal half marathon. We'll see how it goes... I might have too many goals. Haha

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  9. Haha, Thanks!! That is a nice thing about not training for a marathon this year--I'm having fun picking up the speed! :D

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  10. Awesome! Such a terrific race for you and so fun that you were the first female. That's a BIG deal!!! :-)

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  11. Awesome!!!! I'm so proud of you!!! When I did the 5K in Michigan in February, it was an out-and-back course on a trail, and I feel like I "fell asleep" in the middle, between getting caught behind people on a narrow course and watching people running in the opposite direction.

    But, 1st female is 1st female, so that's great! And even if the course was .03 off, that's not that much and you were still on PR pace. According to Athlinks, my 5K PR is from the zoo race where the course was 2.89 mi. Clearly I don't count that. My goal is to one day beat that time doing the actual distance.

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  12. Yeah, that is kind of what happened. After I passed those 2 girls, I had nothing in front of me to compete against. I just looked up your time from the Reindeer Run (hope that's not creepy)... Totally achievable!! :)

    Since I ran the Chi Town under Kate's name (and she's also on Athlinks), it automatically posted to her page so I can't claim it as my own time. Oh well, that just means I have to have an awesome Palos Half, right? :)

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  13. Congrats, Kelly! Yay for making it into the 22s! WooooHooooo!

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  14. Thanks so much! And the thing is, if I had some competition, I knew I could have gone faster. Yay for meeting goals!!! :)

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  15. Wow, you rock!!! And, I am very happy you finally get to try Honey Stinger. Next time I see you, I promise to bring you some chews to try!

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  16. Thanks! I've been on the hunt and it appears that they sell Honey Stinger at some of the local running/cycling stores. I just have to go in there and take a look around. Hopefully I'll have some time this weekend (but probably not).

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  17. They sell Honey Stinger stuff at REI, too, if you have one of those near you.

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  18. Great race! Your pace was spot on and you finished as first female?? AND beat your goal time? How will you ever top that? Oh, probably by going faster, right :-)

    I'll be course marshaling between mile 18 & 19 of the Illinois Marathon Saturday. I really, really wanted to run it but it was not to be this year. So, I'll be doing the next best thing and helping out.

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  19. Haha, I know, right?? :)

    I'll look for you while I'm out there! Not sure what I'll be wearing yet (rain, etc.) but I'll be out there regardless of the weather! I'll be sure to try to high-five you as we pass! :) I haven't been down to U of I for a race before but it sounds like it will be a fun time. We're tailgating afterwards and you're welcome to join our runner group if you'd like! We're just going to be in the main stadium parking lot. :)

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  20. I have found Honey Stinger products (the chews and waffles) at Sports Authority. I'm sure Dick's carries it too.

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  21. Awesome job Kelly! So happy for you. :-)

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  22. Congrats on the awesome time and 1st female. A win is a win is a win!! :)

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    1. Thanks so much! I'm totally going with your second sentence.... I'll take it!!! :)

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  23. Awesome Job!!!!! I haven't tried those Stingers yet, but most people say they like them. I think I would love the Peanut butter one. Bu I love anything peanut butter!

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  24. Thanks Andrea! I also love anything peanut butter--so delicious!!! :)

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