Apparently hell is freezing over and pigs are flying – for I placed third overall in a race.

Short version:  Only eight women ran this 5K, and I came in third.  Racing someone head-to-head is fun.  Hill training is a good thing.  I’m still slow.  But I got a trophy.

Long version:  Sunday was the annual “5K” for Juvenile Arthritis in the Pocono mountain community where we spend our weekends.  They call it a 5K but acknowledge that it is a little long – it just works out to begin and end at the clubhouse.  I’ve run the route a few times and it consistently measures 3.2+ miles on my GPS.  My course record was 33:01 from last September.  Going into the weekend my only goal for the race was to beat my course PR, which I figured would take a good effort but not all-out.

Sunday morning, DH made the sudden decision to run also.  (His running days are dwindling due to arthritis in his hip)  My goal for the race switched to “run with DH”…but that would still probably get me in under my previous course best.  For our warm up we rode our bikes about 1.5 miles to the start line.  A total of 23 runners are there -- eight of them female.  The weather was colder than I like -- it was about 45º and the wind was whipping.  I joked that since the route passes our house at about the halfway point, I could just stop there if I was miserable and come back later to get my bike.

I let DH set the pace in the beginning.  The first mile is a gradual downhill, and my effort was about tempo-run effort.  I look ahead and see only three women ahead of us and start to think that I might try for third if they don’t pull away.

After the first mile we easily pass the 3^rd place woman who has run out of steam.  Hmm, that was easy.  We’re about 20 yds behind the 2^nd place woman (Melissa, who happens to have been in my daughter’s HS graduating class), but seem to be gaining a little.  Maybe I’ll try for second place?  Then I hear footsteps from behind and we are passed by a woman who then quickly passes Melissa.  Sh*t!  If I want to place I need to beat Melissa.

We pass our house.  I’m not stopping….my competitive nature has kicked in and my goal for the race has changed again.  In the year and a half that I’ve been running, I’ve never had the opportunity to race someone for anything that mattered.  Ok, not that 3^rd place in a dinky little community run *matters*….but it matters a little more than battling for 64^th place out of 120 women.  Ok, not really….but it mattered to me on Sunday.

We’ve reached a point in the course where there is a 55-ft climb in half a mile.  It’s not really a hill, but your pace will slow if you are not paying attention.  This is where I pass Melissa.  Once the incline levels off I hear footsteps and hope that it’s DH coming with me, but it’s Melissa.  Sorry DH, I’ll see you at the finish line.  I’m on a mission here.

I start to think about a strategy.  With a little over a mile to go, I don’t think I can hold on if I try to increase my pace.  But I realize that the last half mile of this course is another climb, a little harder than the first one.  Since Melissa is a recreational runner who runs occasionally for fitness, I’m betting that she usually avoids running on hills.  I routinely do hilly runs – I bet I can out-climb her at the end.

So I settle in next to Melissa, biding my time until we climb again.  Looking at my splits, we actually slowed down in this section.  But 2^nd place was out of reach and there was no one coming behind us.  At the 2.6 mile mark the second climb begins and I make my move.  It’s a long gradual hill into a right turn, then a little steeper for 30 yards, then a left turn and an even steeper climb 30 yards to the finish.

As I made the right turn I stole a glance and Melissa was about 20 yds behind.  As I approached the left turn, Melissa’s mother was standing there yelling “come on Melissa, this is for third place!”  I didn’t dare look but I was afraid that she was gaining on me so I did my best to sprint up the hill to the finish.

Woo hoo!  3^rd place!  I beat someone half my age up the final hill!  (Reality check:  I beat five female runners – and probably none of them run as much in one month as I typically run in a week.)

Final stats: 3.25 miles in 30:36.  My course PR by about two and a half minutes.  According to my GPS I did 5K in 29:10 – not a PR.  You know it’s a slow field when 29:10 gets 3^rd place.

Welcome to the world of competitive running. Now you know the difference between racing and time trialing. Small or large race, all you can do is race against who shows up to run. It's always more fun, at least for me, when I find myself in a race against another runner like you did. Hopefully you'll have many more opportunities like that. Congrats on your third place and outkicking the younger set.

Congrats!!

I had this happen to me last year, where I came in 2nd overall and 1st female in a 5k with what I felt was a mediocre time.  It was shocking!

I agree, it's fun to be able to race head to head vs. against the clock.

I loved this RR.  Great job!

Small or large race, all you can do is race against who shows up to run.

This is so true.  I felt silly getting two AG awards this weekend, but hell, I was the best out of those that showed up, so Philliefan - I say it does matter!   You showed up and you competed and you should be proud.

very cool...congrats! the miles you put in paid off compared to the others. bravo.

Hills, racing head to head, race bling, all good stuff.

WTG, Philliefan!   Congratulations on being 3rd place woman!  Pish-posh about it being a small race, it sounded fun!  Also, it sounds like you ran a smart race.

Great race tactics by reeling in and then passing Melissa on the hills.  Enjoy your 3rd place trophy - you EARNED it!