5K PR-Puked-Disappointed (Read 864 times)

So today was the first 5K race in quite a while. I have been doing a lot of longer slow miles, and I know my easy pace has dropped in the last few months. I was not only hoping for a PR at the 5K distance, but hoping to CRUSH it. My previous PR was 38:44. I was hoping to come in under 37:00 today. I really wanted to see the 36x. For the first time at a race I really understood why "real" runners run before the race. In my long runs my first mile is always slower until things loosen up. So today I decided I would run some real easy before the race starts. I got in just over .5 mile but I didn't time it quite right. (So much still to learn!) When the gun sounded I took off. I had planned to start off conservatively, and then get faster every mile. Planned being the key word. I got about .25 miles in before looking down to realize I was running under 10:00/mile. Way too fast for me. I dialed it down, but definitely kept pushing myself. The whole race was tough. I pushed the whole way. It never felt great, and yet I was confident in my times at each marker. Mile 1- 11:24 Wow, that seemed fast. I wasn't sure I would be able to hold on. Mile 2-12:15 pace slower but I didn't realize that would be too slow to hit my goal. Mile 3-12:13 pace. At this point I knew I was in the homestretch but I was HURTING!! I told myself to just hold on! At about a 1/4 mile left to go I had a serious side stitch. I turned the corner and could see the finish line. I looked down at the ground in front of me, trying to will my body to keep moving. The last .1 was an 11:40 pace, so I didn't slow down as much as I thought. Then came the last 20 yards. The dry heaves started. I have had this happen before and was able to hold on through the finish and not puke. Well, today I made it through the finish, but the clock said 37:02. And then I bent over and puked. I hear the ewws from the crowd, but at that point what can you do. So I am left with mixed emotions. I know I pushed as hard as I could. I can't think of a time in the race where I could have pushed faster than what I did. But 3 seconds??? How can I not have found 3 seconds somewhere? I think in time I will be able to enjoy the new PR. I am motivated to continue. I am often impatient for my body to catch up with my desires. I have so much room for improvement, with continued weight loss and training I know I can get to where I want to be mentally. But at the moment I am disappointed that I missed breaking 37 minutes by only 3 seconds.

Hey you still crushed your PR, great job. Nothing wrong with a little puke. I was looking to crush my PR this morning too. I was looking for something for sure in the 20x range. First mile went well 6:45, then I got lost in no man's land. We went into the wooded path and I lost sight of the guys in front of me and there was no one behind me so my pace slipped a little bit. About half way in a couple of kids on bikes asked me how long the race was, "Just over 3 miles," I said. Followed by a "Whoa", that made me chuckle. Came in at 21:52 versus the 23:26 PR from 9 months ago. I am pleased considering I haven't even gone on a tempo run since July. Plus a $10 gift card, free taco, free rootbeer float, some great "carbon-footprint" oranges, and of course the t-shirt all for $15.

Awesome job!!!! If you puked that means you didnt have 3 seconds left in there. You should feel great about this race!

Great race report! 1 minute 41 seconds off a 5K is hard...Excellent! Forget the 3 seconds! Sounds like you ran your heart out (and, a few more organs maybe )! Congrats!

Puking is the coolest. Well done.

Don't be disappointed, you ran a great race!

Is it on video ? Did other runners applaud ? Great job on your new PR.

The Good Times series is just perfect for an all-out effort like that, it finishes along the mighty Merrimack. I have yet to chum the river, but there is still hope for me. Great effort, kudos to you.