Notes
I ran the WellAware 5K last night. Normally this race has taken place the Sat before Memorial Day or on Memorial Day. This year they decided to try a weeknight earlier in the month. The attendance was great since most of the parking lots in the park were full. Not all running the 5K since there was also a course for the kids to start completing their 26.2 miles. As they complete miles they get coupons to use at various businesses.
We started at 6 pm and it was 78F and kind of humid. I lined up in front. The course starts out going downhill and we follow a concrete path through the park and were in the sun most of the time. The first mile finished in 5:51 but it was downhill and I was in 6th place at this point and Dan E. wasn't too far ahead of me. I felt like I was much slower. Breathing and heart rate felt higher than usual at this point in a 5K.
The next mile was more difficult for me. My entire body felt drained trying to run a 5K pace and I ran second mile in 6:37. I felt a little better the 3rd mile but pace wasn't that great for me and ran in 6:30. The last part is up the hill we ran down in the beginning and I ran that 0.17 at 6:56 pace. I managed to stay in 6th place in the end out of 141 in 20:08. I was hoping for under 20 minutes but didn't happen. Placed 3rd in my age group 40 - 49 but they only awarded 1st place in each age group.
Overall through the race I just felt drained and my upper body was sore from weight lifting. I have a bunch of excuses why I couldn't keep pace. I did run in the morning 8 miles but kept the pace easy so not sure that was factor, or the evening race warmer temp, high fat lunch, weights, tired, etc. I am running a 50 miler in 8 days so I definitely feel like I need to taper hard or I won't be ready. Thankfully I won't be running a 5K pace so that will make it easier.