Sunday, June 28, 2020

Weekly Eats: a 5k PR and a group run

This was most definitely a "quality over quantity" week. 21.4 miles, a 5k PR, a run with new friends, and another race bites the dust.

I'm linking up with the Weekly Run Down, please head over to Kim and Deborah to check it out.

Monday:  weights and a really hot 3.25 mile run. 

Tuesday: a strategic rest day, since the forecast on Wednesday was very favorable for a 5k.

Wednesday: a 'lil 5k PR.  More about that in a minute.

Thursday: an easy 4.25 miles.  I probably should have taken a rest day but the weather was ideal so I jumped on it.

Friday: I met up with my new running group for a planned 4 mile run...and ended up with "a half of a half" at 6.55 miles (the meetup was about a mile from home so that's how 4 miles became 6.55).  Outside of racing I've run thousands of miles by myself and about 5 with other people...and I am sold that group running is the way to go.  I felt like the group was going just a little faster than I would have run on my own, so I didn't look at my Garmin and just chatted and the miles piled up quickly.  As far as social distancing, that was very easy, and c'mon we're all runners, no one is going to get that close to each other.

There's another date on the calendar for next week.  And yes by rights I should have done weights but I had to leave early for the run and I was feeling a bit beat up from the 5k so I skipped them without a moment's regret or hesitation.

Saturday: rest day and my goodness I needed it.

Sunday: 4.25 very steamy treadmill miles.  I didn't even consider taking the run outside for one moment.  P.S. this would have been the "real" race day for the 10k that I did virtually 2 weeks ago, and I am very glad that I got to be in my basement with a fan and AC today instead of outside.

All About the 5k
One of my running goals for 2020 was to run 12 races for an average of one a month.  As of two weeks ago I'd run 5 races (one of them with other people!) so I was on the lookout to get another 5k done in June to keep me on track for my goal.  The forecast was showing mid 50s for Wednesday morning, so I cherry picked that for a 5k.

For all of my other virtual races, I was actually registered for something, either "real" races that went virtual or the Rambling Runner race series on Strava.  Wednesday's effort was "a race because I say it's a race."  No, it needs a name, let's call it the inaugural "Cool Weather Cruise 5k".  Ok, you can call it a 5k time trial if you want but I'm calling it a race.

That morning I took my time over a cup of coffee and a Clif bar (my normal weekday pre-workout breakfast these days) and then had a glass of UCAN for good measure, exactly what I always do before I race.  Then I headed out to the park with the flat trail and made my way to the official start line...ok, you can call it a park bench if you want but I'm calling it the official start line for my race.

At my last 5k I was ambitious with my pace, so this time I set up a workout on my Garmin to help me out.  My goal was 9:50-9:40-9:30-ish splits and I set the total workout time just a tad long because god forbid that any of the billion running apps that I use would drop the last data point and just record is as a 3.09 mile run instead of a 5k.


My first virtual 5k was a PR but it was also a ginormous positive split.  This time by controlling the pace early on I was able to avoid that, though by the time I got to 2.5 miles I just couldn't hardly even and started to lose steam.


Pace wise this is way faster than the last 5k so yay, but the sub 30 5k seems a long way away...I would have had to run each mile 10 seconds faster to get there.  I think the goal for the next 5k is just getting a negative split.

Race Cancellation Recap
My Hometown Marathon made a lot of noise that the race was going on in late September and there was a plan in place to make it happen.  Bless them for talking a good game but it wasn't much of a surprise when the announcement came out that, um, the city wasn't willing to close down the roads for as long as it would have taken to do a full marathon with a staggered start so it's a no-go.  The options were to defer to next year, go virtual, or just donate your entry fee and walk away.  So yep, virtual it is.



26 comments:

  1. Awesome job and congrats on that 5K PR!

    Sorry to hear about another race cancellation, but glad that they offered you a few options. I've heard of some other races that want to do a staggered start - but like you mentioned, it's hard to do that if the streets will be blocked off for such a long time.

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    1. I'm kind of glad that they tried to keep the race going. I'd registered last year so I was in it on matter what.

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  2. Bummer on the race cancellation (but yay on the deferral option). YOu probably heard me say that my D2D 20K is now happening in Sept (instead of May 30th), and has a looped 10K course (instead of the traditional point-to-point. I believe they're also doing staggered start times...which will be interesting getting everyone started BEFORE the hot-shot speedsters come cruising through as they finish their first 10K loop. Stay tuned on that one ;-) Congrats, though, on that awesome 5K PR!!!! You're having a great racing season, even if it's by virtual means. Keep up the great work!

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    1. Fingers crossed that the race goes off as planned!

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  3. I'm really impressed with your progress and that 5k PR! It seems like a lot of runners are doing some pretty awesome things in spite of the pandemic.

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  4. Congratulations on the 5k PR! Amazing work and great pacing too! So impressed.

    Yes...running with a group makes a huge difference! Glad you're enjoying it so far!

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    1. It's been so amazing! I understand what all of the fuss is now.

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  5. you have been working so hard! Huge congrats on the 5K this week. Thanks for joining the link up and have a great week

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  6. Amazing job, Birchie!!! You did so well!
    Clif bar, coffee, starting line: you were well organized.
    Just wondering what your makeshift portapotties were. ;-)
    You nearly had that negative split, too. Well done!

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    1. Ha ha, valid point that I left out re the portapotties, because it wouldn't be a race without a bathroom stop. The park is a mile away so normally I walk, but on "race day" I drive there. That's my pandemic portapotty solution.

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  7. Congrats on that awesome 5k PR! Your hard work paid off!
    Sorry about the race deferral. I was hopeful for fall racing but now, not so much. Sigh.

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    1. I really believe that there's a way to do racing safely and the industry will figure it out. Until then, virtual it is.

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  8. that 5K!!! AMAZING!! well done lady!!

    Yeah I think a lot if not most races just aren't going to happen this year. it really stinks!

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    1. Yes, for a hot minute it looked like racing would happen. Oh well.

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  9. Wow! Your runs have been going so well lately. Congrats. A PR is always exciting.

    Group runs do make the miles go by much faster. I miss our running group. We are making plans to start it up again in July.

    I think the only way races are going to happen is if they are very small and practice social distancing and good public health.

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    1. I didn't fully understand before what everyone who did group running lost when the pandemic started. Yay that your group is starting up again soon.

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  10. I'm sorry about your race cancellation. That stinks. Of course, it's no surprise, but I know these race companies want to make things happen!

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    1. That's what gives me hope, these businesses need to find a way to survive and I know they will do it. I don't know what that will look like, but it's going to happen.

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  11. Congrats on that 5k PR! Too bad about that race but it does sound like that would be too difficult to pull off.

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    1. I was really impressed last year with how they managed the start line. It wasn't congested at all. Oh well, they will figure it out.

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  12. It's been really exciting watching your progress over these last few months. You are making lemonade out of lemons and accomplishing new heights!

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  13. I think Cool Weather Cruise 5K is the perfect name for you race and congrats on your 5K PR! I LOVE running with friends, but I also enjoy my solo runs (walks right now).

    I'm sure you were bummed about your marathon going virtual, but not the least bit surprised. I'll be cheering for you from Virginia!

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  14. That is awesome about your 5K! You have been doing so well. Bummer about the race but glad there are several good options.

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  15. Once again, a huge congratulations on that 5K PR!! That sub-30 is closer than you think!! Just keep at it, stay consistent, and keep throwing in those speed sessions and you've got this. I'm going to try and forward you something that has really helped me for my time trials. I'll look for your email on this blog or try IG. Give me a sec.

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