I ran a live race this morning...the Bill Roney Memorial 5k, put on by Hanson's Running Shops. I had not run this before, but my husband had--back when he used to run. It's flat, and the weather was ideal (mid/upper 30's, sunny, very light wind). In other words, no excuses to be found for whatever performance I turned in. I have been doing a BAA 5k plan for the last 6 weeks, and did all my training outdoors--a first for me, since usually I have always done speedwork at the gym.
The race is small--probably a couple hundred people. There were 4 waves based on expected finish. I lined up with 25-29 minutes--I honestly have no clue what time I am capable of racing a 5k in, since I haven't run one in 3 years, and my training paces for intervals were honestly, too fast. Masks were required at the start/finish area and most people complied. (Everyone had something, but it was fairly easy to distance and so some people dropped theirs). I did set my watch for 1/4 mile laps, with the intent of looking at the first two to make sure I wasn't doing anything stupid.
Actual race summary: I ran, it was the usual "5k explosion of pain" and finished in 24:41. A good result (as long as I stop comparing it to absolute times of past races). On an age-graded basis, it's about 75-76% , which is pretty much what my absolute 5k PR time converted to. I won my age group (yeah for being 62), which was nice since I need new shoes and if I go to a Hanson's shop with my bib, I get 20% off and I got $20 for being the AG winner. Not bad for a $20 race fee--which included a Brooks shirt (who else, given it's Hanson's).
So there you go. I guess I am: happy to have done a real race, happy to have trained through the dead of winter totally outdoors (an achievement, in my book), and happy to see that on at least one scale, I still can achieve a "competitive" result. But god, do 5k's hurt!
Then the reverse in the fall into winter.
All this time, I thought my PR was for a different race--and they're within 6 seconds, so it's not a big deal.
