First 5K Recap
Posted: April 16, 2011 at 1:38 pmI did it! I did it! I did it!!
And you can safely say that I will race again. I understand the hype and addiction to running and racing even more now. So. Much. Fun!!!
First, let’s back up though. Friday night I made sure to do as much prep work as possible. I packed up stuff for the kiddos to spend the morning with their grandma. I laid out all the things I needed. I pulled out the trusty boob pump. What? You don’t have to do a pumping session as part of your race morning prep? Lucky.
Then, I hit the hay by 9 pm to be up and at ‘em by 5 am. I checked the weather, got dressed, and ate my breakfast – whole wheat English muffin with peanut butter and half a chocolate chip cookie dough Larabar.
I can’t remember the last time I ate breakfast at 5:30 am. So early!
We made it to the race venue at around 6:45. The nerves and excitement had started setting in by this point. Shortly after getting there, I met up with Lee, which helped calm me down a bit..
We walked around, took our bathroom break, and chatted before heading to the start line. Then, suddenly, the time had come and we were off. I made sure to follow all of your advice and keep a steadier pace for my first mile. I finished my first mile at an 8:26 pace and felt great. From there, I decided to pick it up a little bit and hit mile 2 with an 8:10 pace. When I noticed that I was only at 16:36, the thought of finishing under 26:00 as a possibility hit me. I could barely believe it! And I knew I wanted to give my all and see what would happen.
When I had about a 1/2 mile left, I started feeling pretty tired. I could see the final turn up ahead and told myself I could do anything for just a few more minutes. I kept going. I just went for it and ran.
25:12!!!!! I did NOT know I had that in me. Seriously. No clue. It felt so amazing to cross that finish line and see Stacy and Kristy there cheering me on. I could not find Peter, but just knowing he was there meant the world to me too. I turned in my time slip and then headed to the finish line to cheer Lee on as she came up. Lee accomplished her goal of PR’ing which was awesome to see.
After the race, we chatted a bit more with Stacy & Kristy before they had to head off for the 10K portion. Then, I grabbed some snacks – a mini smoothie cup, some Starbucks coffee, a mini coffee cake and mini brownie.
Hey, I can’t turn down free food. Peter, Lee, & I decided to hang out for the raffles and awards too. Lee won a Brita water bottle prize pack.
We were both really hoping for the random umbrella and Clorox bucket of supplies they were giving away though. 😉 Ha!
Suddenly it was time for the awards for the various age groups. Peter & I almost left before this, but I wanted to stay a bit more to chat with Lee before heading out. I’m glad I did because guess what? I placed third in the women’s 25-29 age group! Ummmm…how?! I was literally in shock.
And excited for the totally unexpected surprise. Talk about a great first race! Even though I know not every race will end like this one (or even close!), I still look forward to many future races. This may have been the first, but certainly won’t be the last.
- What was a “fitness high” you felt recently?
- Check out Lee’s, Kristy’s, and Stacy’s blogs to say hello and hear their recaps! They are awesome blog friends!
Tags: 5K race, blog friends, running
Holy crap!!! You NAILED that 5k!! Not only did you manage to run wicked fast (um hello, are you sure that was your first race???) but you made 3rd in your age group, are you serious?? I am MAJORLY impressed girlfriend! awesome!!
Congratulations! What a fabulous first race!!
Congrats! No matter how I say this, it’s not going to come out right, but I’m really proud of you for not putting your fitness goals and your “you time” aside just because you are a busy mom! And you must have a wonderfully supportive husband like me 🙂
We are blessed! Congrats again!!!
Yes! I feel so incredibly blessed for a supportive and understanding husband. I don’t think I can count how many times I thanked him today. And I hope that by pursuing my goals I am a good, strong example to the chilluns. I know you relate! 🙂
You go girl. Woo, hoooooo!!!!!!!
[…] know a lot of you had great races this weekend – Congrats to Suze, Beth, Lauren, Tina, & Lee (if you’ve raced and I didn’t link to you I’m sorry, I’m just […]
[…] know a lot of you had great races this weekend – Congrats to Suze, Beth, Lauren, Tina, & Lee (if you’ve raced and I didn’t link to you I’m sorry, I’m just […]
What an incredible first race! How exciting and FAST! I haven’t felt any fitness “highs” recently although I’m gearing up to run a Marathon Relay. I’ll be running one of the 5k legs but I’m super nervous. This is the biggest race in the state to the sheer size is overwhelmeing me. eek!
I am sure you will do fabulous!!! And a bigger race just means more adrenaline and excitement. 😉
I am so so so so so so so so so so sos os os sos sos sos soooooooo impressed and proud of you!
Great job tina. Sounds like you’ve caught the race bug. Can’t wait to see what race is in your future!
congratulations lady!! that’s awesome.
ROCKSTAR! Dang girl! Not many people place in their age group (which, BTW, 25-29 is one of the tougher age groups) their first race! You rock! Congrats on a great race! What’s next for you – a 10K, half marathon, MARATHON?!
10K and half are definitely in my eyesights. Don’t know if I’ll ever do a marathon though. Time commitment with the little ones keeps me away from considering that one. I’m hooked on races in some form though!
yayyyy Tina! That is amazing! What a grrrreat race! I’m so proud of you 🙂
omg you are SO cute. Congrats, girl!!! So proud/happy for you 🙂 Your very first 5k is faster than my 5k PR! Nice job.
Awesome job, Tina! You did so great!
And I love that you understand the excitement of a race! So many people say they just enjoy running and don’t need the races. That’s true, but the event itself always makes me that much more excited… Hooray!
Tina! You did a really impressive job on that race. Congratulations on officially rockin’ it!
Wow!!! congrats!! that is an AWESOME time!!! you are my idol 🙂 Hope you are celebrating tonight!!
[…] actually the popular one, but it was flattering all the same. Additionally, I want to congratulate Tina for winning third place in her age group in her very first 5K […]
Oh girl I am SOOOOO excited for you!!! I knew you were going to rock the race!!
Congrats!! You did amazing!!
Awesome job, Tina! Congratulations on placing third! I placed during my first race too…it was a very small group, but hey…placing is placing, right!? Yay for you! 🙂
I think I might just nickname you speedy gonzales!! You are amazing. So maybe the more kids you have the faster you get??? hehe.
😉
Then this is as fast as I’m getting because I’m stopping at DOS! Haha!
I had so much fun and you did great! The look on your face when they announced your name for the 3rd place was priceless! You were definitely shocked.
So when’s the next one?
Not sure! I actually noticed they have a 10K on that same course on June 4th. Hmmm????
I’m down! I liked the course, even though the other girls said the 10K had some hills.
Congrats, Tina!!! That’s so awesome and exciting. WOO!!!
WOWEEE!
That is an amazing speed for a 5K. Way to go!!
Are you hooked on racing yet?
That is an incredible time- wow!! I can’t believe that’s your first race! Have you been doing speedwork? I’m going to go hunt through your old posts to see how you’ve been training- I want to run that fast!
I did one set of sprints on the treadmill and a couple of 5K distance runs where I tried to push my pace and reach negative splits, but that was the extent of it. I think the race adrenaline (and a super flat course) got me today’s time. 🙂
Woo hoo!!! Congratulations on an awesome race and a fantastic time! 😀 Definitely bask in your accomplishment and sign up for another race. 😉 It’s definitely addicting!
Tina, you did AWESOME today!! I am so so proud of you and also so so happy that I got to be there to see you! Congrats on a huge accomplishment!
Ahhhh, you ROCKED that 5k! My fitness highs are coming from my outside runs – two days in a row of over 3 miles outside (which is like unheard of for me, I can go forever on the treadmill) with under 10 minute miles!
Great job!!! Outdoors feels great right now, so glad you’re able to enjoy it. And accomplish new things for you. Way to go!
Congrats on your first race! That is an unbelievable time. You are FAST!
Tina, way to go! That is awesome!!!
I can’t wait to train for some 5-K’s…soon.
Congratulations Tina!!! You rock!!!!!
yet another reason why you inspire and amaze me. congratulations on your AMAZING first race!!! 🙂 tina, you’re a rock star!
So, so awesome, Tina! You did AMAZING and placing at your first race?! Holy crap! Way to go!!
Congrats! You did a great job 🙂
I had a fitness high on thursday actually, at uni we were doing 3RM (repitition max) testing and I just gave it my all. I ended up leg pressing 200kg for my 3RM which was the whole stack of weights! I was soo pumped afterwards, I was on the biggest high coming home. Best feeling ever.
I really want to run a 5k race one day. I’m not a runner, so it will take some hard work and training 😛
That is AWESOME! Serious strength. 🙂
YAY! Awesome time! Holy cow you were flying! So proud of you!!!! 😀
What an awesome first 5k! Doesn’t it feel great to accomplish something so amazing. 🙂
Congrats! That’s awesome. Hard work always pays off!
Congratulations! And again! You are amazing–and so soon after you had your baby.
I’m so happy for you…
love
Ela
You did amazing!! Way to go. 🙂
Awesome job!! That is so exciting. I love accidental PRs. I guess that’s what I call them. Once you catch the racing bug, it’s hard to get ride of!
Wow, Tina, CONGRATS!!! What a great race! Just running and finishing was a huge accomplishment, not to mention the award! Woot! I’m so glad you enjoyed yourself. 😀
Awesome job. I got a runner’s high just reading your post!
I remember my first race…it was awesome and I couldn’t believe it but I was hooked to. I went on to do 4 more last year. Next Saturday is my 1st race of the year. Can’t wait!
Congratulations! You’re right … racing is addictive.
You are amazing Tina. And fast!! Congratulations on placing too- so exciting! I raced my first 5k yesterday too!
You are suck a rockstar – placing in your first 5K! Congrats again!!! 🙂
Way to go Tina! So exciting to see that all of your training paid off the way it did! I mean, finishing in under 26min is BIG in the first place & to top it off with placing in your age group? Amazing!
Happy Running! (and Racing!)
You are an award winning runner! How exciting!! Keep up the good work. I am so impressed!
My fitness high was last Thursday I trained my husbands boss. He’s a personal trainer and so is she. I’m not. She’s been training for many years and I put together a leg workout and we trained together and she couldn’t keep up and said her legs were so sore the next day that that was the best leg workout she had ever had. Made me feel good! maybe i missed my calling!
You are so crazy awesome! You are totally my fitness hero today!
INSANITY!!! You are amazeballs.
25:12!?!?! You speed demon you.
Congrats on a wonderful race and thank you for being so inspiring, as always.
Wow Tina! You are SO FAST! You are truly a natural runner. Amazing amazing job!!!