A Running Tally, pt. 2

I have an addition to my running tally!

Races Completed

• 5/22/2010: Jaxson's Jog 5k, North Park (Allison Park, PA)
• Time: 25:13 / 8:08 minute miles
• Course conditions: Very nice course, flat overall with a couple of slight inclines. The surface was pavement. I like races where we run half of the way out and then loop around and run back to the starting point. It's nice to have a good gauge on how much farther you have to go.
• Weather conditions: muggy and the potential for rain. Amazingly, it only rained right before and after our race. In a way, it would've been nice to have a bit of a drizzle to cool us down.
• Ran with: Lauren C
• Additional comments: 
• Having a couple of beers with dinner and a burger last night = bad idea. My stomach was bothering me a little from that, and I was getting side stitches too. Next time I need to have a light dinner and NO drinking! I had to stop to walk a bit a couple of times. Thinking back, if I had pushed through a bit more, I could've broken 25 minutes! That is my goal for next time.
• A blonde woman in a blue shirt and I kept passing each other throughout the last couple of miles or so. During the last half mile, I was really hurting (I thought we were finishing right where we started, but it turns out we had to go a little farther). She passed me out with probably a tenth of a mile to go. Was I going to let this lady beat me? I THINK NOT. I'm not sure from where I pulled this extra energy, but I was able to flat out sprint to the finish line and beat her by two seconds. I tend to race against my previous time and also whoever happens to be around me at the end of the race. VERY SATISFYING. I hope you enjoyed the view, blondie.

I'm really, really happy with my results today.  Now let's see how I will do with 5 miles in two weekends.  I'm not expecting to run 8 minute miles in the 5 mile race, but I'd like to at least keep it at 9 minute miles if I can. Hopefully Dr. Dre and Snoop will be able to help me push through the additional 1.9 miles.

YAY GROWN UP SPORTS! I really was starting to feel like I was missing something in my life. I loved athletic/competitive activities throughout my childhood and high school. During college I focused on other things, so I didn't miss it too much. I'm at the point now where running is definitely filling that void for me. Unlike other sports, I feel like it's more of a competition with myself than anything else. It's also something that people of all ages can do.  I hope to keep participating in many more races throughout the rest of the year!