Notes
Sprint for Cancer 5k.
Official time: 20:22
New PR!
http://www.wetimeraces.com/RacingSystems/Results/2012/SprintForCancer390/SprintMenu.htm
Perfect temperature, slight breeze.
This race went better than planned. I was sort of shooting for running a 20:40 w/ 6:50/6:40/6:30, then < 40 seconds for the last stretch. I stayed easy and relaxed at the beginning, despite feeling behind since lots of people were running past me. That was OK, because after the first half mile, it was me doing the passing for the rest of the race. There was a gradual hill in the first mile that I stayed fairly steady on, and I started to feel warm. I was glad I was wearing a sleeveless shirt, even though it was a cool morning. I passed a guy wearing arm warmers around here and I definitely was glad I wasn't wearing any. The end of the first mile came easily and I went slightly under target pace. A long straight slightly downhill section started off mile 2 and I just kept the same rhythm. At first I was afraid to push much because there was a lot of race left, but I wasn't working very hard and I didn't want to break my concentration so I just kept it in the low 6:30's. Once I hit the end of mile 2, and I wasn't feeling nearly as bad as I normally do, I knew I could afford to push some. I didn't feel 'mile 2' tired yet, so I knew I could beat 20:40 if I could hold it together. Even in the beginning of mile 3, I got down to 6:10 pace for a few spurts. This is where I passed gobs of people. About halfway through mile 3, I started to feel like I usually do at mile 2, where I need to breathe a lot harder and it's easier to break form. It was mentally easier to stay together in this race, though, because I knew only had a few minutes left.
Overall, I did a good job of running a plan, but not sticking too close to the plan when I felt good. I feel like I could have run the beginning harder, but now I know what I can do. My heart rate I notice was not as high as it normally gets in a 5k, and I had a lot left for the last stretch, so I'm sure I had some room to run harder.I have a lot more confidence for my next 5k. I'll definitely shoot for sub-20, although everything would really have to line up just right.