Day: July 4, 2013

I’ve been both looking forward to and dreading this race. As I’ve mentioned previously, 5k messes with my head. There’s just something about it that gets me. The ‘wall’ that most people hit near the end of a marathon I hit around the first mile of a 5k. There is no logical or physical reason for this. None. As my running buddy points out–I can solidly do 8+ miles without stopping, and at a decent clip, he’s seen me do it. I should be able to do 5k without walking. But I can’t.

Still, I tried to stay positive. Knowing I was going to be running (at least theoretically) with him and his buddy was going to push me. We were gunning for sub-30. I was all in. And for the first half mile or so I kept up with him, solidly, I was pushing myself, it was good. Then all of a sudden BAM! Wall. I kept running, but I could just see him getting farther and farther away from me until I lost him completely. So I kept going. Walking a couple of times for no good reason other than my brain told me to stop running. And I swear on these runs that happens independently of conscious thought because as soon as I realize I’m walking and I realize I’m FINE and don’t need to walk I start running again.

Despite the fact I struggled I did manage to pull out a PR. My previous 5k PR was last year at the Great Race 5k, when I pulled out a 38:14. The timing for today’s race is a little wonky–everyone starts at gun time, so I’m sure I was probably a little faster, but my official time was 35:30. *Almost* 3 minutes faster on a less forgiving course (Great Race is as flat and downhill as you can get in the ‘burgh, this course is not so much).

I’m happy with the PR, though still frustrated. High point of the race was seeing my friend from work out with signs for me and my buddy. That was cool. All I can do at this point is focus on the big picture–training for my marathon. I have a few more 5k’s coming up, and I’m going to try hard to remember that distance is my thing. 5k’s in my world are meant to be fun runs with my friends. They aren’t something I particularly enjoy. So I’ll keep doing them in moderation, and striving for my sub-30, but I need to relax and not beat myself up over them.

JUNE GOALS

• If not lose, maintain my weight. FAIL. Miserable FAIL. Totally gained weight. It was mostly a no-weigh month, too. Clearly I’m not ready for that.
  
• Finish getting car taken care of. Half pass. I got one big thing taken care of that ended up costing more than I’d planned. Thus I cancelled my trip. Still need to get two smaller issues resolved.
• Keep up the Cross Training. FAIL. I don’t think I would’ve gained if I’d been better about the XT, but it is what it is.

So June was kind of a big ole FAIL. But not July. July is already off to a (star-spangled) banner start.

JULY GOALS

• Lose 6 pounds. I’m up 4 from my low, 6 will give me a new low. If I can manage to lose more, great, but I feel like 6 is a reasonable goal for the month.
• Training Beast Mode. This is off to a banging start. I’ve been up by 5 AM to get my XT done before work. So far I have followed the training calendar to the effing letter. The plan is all laid out, the goal is to Get. It. Done.
  
• Finances. I’m getting a promotion at work, which comes with a decent raise, I can still work OT as needed, and I’ll have the potential for bonuses. While I definitely have some expenses coming up, and some running related purchases I need to make (new shoes & fuel belt), this should go a long way in helping me get my financial house in order.
  
• Dates. I’ve been on a couple. I like the two guys I’m talking to. Nothing serious. I’d like to go on a few more dates. At least two. If they are with the same guys all the better, but new ones are fine.
  

These are some pretty big goals, so I’m good with there only being a few. Let’s do this.