2 Weekends, 2 Races – ECSC 5K & RnR 5K

It takes a runner quite a while to realize that not all runs are meant to be fast, and, not all races will end up with PRs on the time clock. Even with this realization & wisdom, it’s hard not to shoot for a PR in every race. We are all human, after all.

The past 2 weekends, I ran a race. Neither with the intention of setting a new PR; and neither ended with that as the ultimate result. Surprisingly, I was/am 150% okay with this. I know I am a winter-time runner & my PRs will be set during that season. All of this awful summer-time weather running is just preparation for fall & winter races!

The last weekend in August brought about my only August race—the ECSC 5K. Up until 12 hours before the race, I wasn’t certain that I’d even run it. Truth be told, I only ran it so that I wouldn’t break my one-race-per-month streak. Seeing a good friend back in action racing after a few months off was the icing on the cake! I had been feeling a bit icky the week prior, so racing it was never in the cards. It would be a hot one, along the VA Beach Boardwalk, so an easy-paced run was totally okay with me.

Race morning came & I met up with my good friend, Kerry. She did part of my warm-up with me (1 mile for her; 3 miles for me), and then we just chatted until race time. Did I mention it was a HOT one…with an 8:15am start time?! The race started & I just ran by feel—“easy does it” was my mentality. I have a real love & appreciation for the races where you DON’T go all out—thanks to how much fun pacing was the inaugural year of the Harbor Lights ½ marathon! When I reached the halfway point at ECSC, the turn-around, I did step it up a bit, to summer tempo pace for the duration of the run. All in all, it was a great morning! I headed home right after the race & carried on “mom-ing”—complete with resumption of swim lessons & running errands with the twins.

Official Results: 25:14 (8:08/mile) – 41/154 overall; 11/77 female; 4/17 in age group

Mile Splits: 8:34, 8:19, 8:08 {final bit 8:04}

Mentally I held back a bit at ECSC, mostly because racing was not the plan; but also because I was “saving myself” for the following weekend.

This past Sunday, I ran in my 5^th Rock ‘n Roll VA Beach race—but unlike the four other years, I only did the 5K this year. All of my prior RnR’s had been the half marathon distance—which frankly, is quite AWFUL {sorry Julie, I know you LOVE this race!}!! I have never broken 2 hours at that race & I am completely okay if I never try to accomplish that feat. I think I am a RnR 5K lifer…… HA!

Prior to the race I had studied the course & looked at the tangents. I had zero aspirations of a PR; but, I did want to put up a good time {I had also studied the results for the 2 years prior, since the 5K was introduced at this race}. And maybe… just maybe, place in my age group—yes, I admit that as one of my race goals! Dream big, right?!

Planning for this race was so laid back. I had zero preparations until just before going to bed on the night prior. I decided on my Running Etc. Ambassador Team singlet, since it has brought me good luck in the past! Shorts, I also debated upon those, but ended up settling on an Oiselle pair. The BRF Julie & I had coordinated logistics of riding together, which I always love, since having a companion helps settle any pre-race jitters! The bonus was a VIP pass that Julie’s hubby gave us—allowing us to have access to clean potties, a prime parking spot, & yummy eats after the race was complete. Thanks John!!

After nearly a mile warm-up, we headed to the corrals. Starting in corral 1 was a bit intimidating, as I knew we’d be around the fasties. No matter how “fast” I get, I am always humbled & remember my early days—my first half marathon, at RnR coincidently enough, where my finishing time was almost 2 hours 30 minutes. Perfect example of how hard work & dedication can pay off!

Following Team Hoyt & the elites, we were off! I knew I had to avoid dodging people, so that I could run a “short” race. I also kept the tangents as a top priority. It’s very interesting to start a race with people who are conserving energy & running smart, whereas your race goal is to “push it” the entire time {the 5K & half marathon start together}. Mile 1 ticked by easily—almost too easy. I didn’t look at my watch once; but maybe I should have! HA! The next mile, not the same ease. As we approached the latter half of the 2^nd mile, the 5K-ers stayed to the left and the half-ers stayed to the right—where the split in the races would happen. By this point, I was ready to be done. My heart had been ticking away in the 180s for over 18 minutes & I was ready to give it some reprieve!

Now is a good time to mention that this race was run on the day after a hurricane swept up the east coast. Hurricane Hermine tried to create havoc for the Rock ‘n Roll-ers, but in the end, I think know we runners won! In the form of way awesome temps—comparatively speaking {this race is traditionally HOT, HOT, HOT!}. The humidity was still there, but the heat index wasn’t in the 90s or 100s! Wahoo! That said though, there was some serious wind & sand to contend with as your ran North on the Boardwalk. Luckily for the 5K-ers, this was less than a half mile—much longer though for the half marathoners {bummer guys!}.

As I turned onto the Boardwalk, I could see the end in sight! It was hard to determine exactly how far was left, as the typical signage was not put up due to the windy-ness of the day. I kicked it into high gear, well, what “gears” remained, and left it all on that sandy Boardwalk. As I approached the race clock, I could still see “22” as the minutes elapsed. Say what?! Could I squeeze in under 23:00?? I DID! Only my 2^nd time ever officially doing that in a 5K race!! Never in a million years did I think that would be possible at RnR! My goal time was low 23:00s… which I had even considered to be a stretch. And I’ll say it again, HARD WORK PAYS OFF!

Official Results: 22:58 (7:24/mile) – 35/1,520 overall; 6/961 female; 3/109 in age group

Mile Splits: 7:08, 7:22, 7:25 {final bit 7:12}

So much appreciation goes to all of the volunteers & city officials for making this race even possible! It could have easily been cancelled; but instead, it turned out just perfect! Of course, I also thank my wonderful husband for helping to make all of my running shenanigans even possible, by watching my sweet boys!

After the race, it was SO much fun to cheer in all of my running friends who had chosen the 13.1 distance as their race. Kudos to everyone on a job well done!!

Icing on the cake, after placing in my AG at a major race, was hanging out with my girls {especially three of my faves—Julie, Kerry, & Mary, who all rocked their own races}! I am so grateful for the bonds & friendships that running has even made possible. I hope if this blog post does just one thing to someone randomly reading it—is to inspire people to find their village of amazing running friends, really, real life friends. Love them hard. Commit to the experience. Push yourself. Embrace the suck. Love the easy. And folks, stick with it—running really does get easier as the years pass!

Thanks for reading!

Up Next For The Running Blonde: DC Ragnar Relay with 11 other AHHHA-MAZING mommas!! Go follow my team, “Mom’s Night Out”, on our FaceBook page (Click HERE for link)!!