Liberty 5K: Happy Runnerversary to Me!

The Liberty 5K holds a special place in my heart for many reasons. It is close to home and the only race that I know of that is held within the boundaries of my sleepy little suburb town. It is the first race in which I ever scored an age group award (2010) and it was my first race ever (2008)--thus my Runnerversary.

A couple of weeks ago the unofficial Beer and Bagels trail group was out running at Knob Hill when it was mentioned that Erik and I would be running the Liberty 5K on July 2. It just so happens that a Groupon for the race came out via email the very same morning so we hatched a plan to run the race and then meet up at our house for a post race party. I was so excited to have a gathering at our house because we don't have people over very often and have never had a running gathering at the house. I was probably more excited about the social aspect of the day than the race itself. We all knew that it would be about a million degrees outside (I don't exaggerate too much) and that 5Ks are hard because they are so darned intense--short and hopefully fast.

It was great running a race so close to home because we didn't have to get up as early and still got to the race in plenty of time. We found our group quite easily plus a few more running friends who were there that day. The race didn't start until 8:00 (late for this time of year) and the sun was already beating down upon us...not a cloud in the sky or a breeze to be felt--it had to be close to 90 degrees. Soon enough we lined up and we were off and running. I don't run enough 5Ks and don't really know how to pace them very well, as evidenced by my splits (you are supposed to get faster as you go, not slower!). I just know that you are supposed to run really fast the whole 3.1 miles and it should probably feel like you might die. I started really fast and was already feeling tired by the 1st mile. I should note here that I was really hoping to defend my 2nd place age group trophy from last year and knew that I would have to run somewhere in the 25:00 range in order to place. After the 1st mile I saw that I was ahead of the necessary pace (good thing because there was no way I could maintain it) and knew that I could ease up a little bit in hopes of surviving until the end.


Finish line fun with Mark L.

Mile 2 was more of the same except and my pace slowed a bit, as I expected. I was still a little ahead of the needed pace to place and I felt pretty good about that. I did start to have some serious talks with myself because all I could think about was walking. I have never taken water from an aide station during a 5K, but I did today and I also enjoyed a sprinkler that was set up at this water stop. Mile 3 was a little bit slower still, and I had to tell myself that I had invested too much to slow down now. This is when I was wondering why I cared so much about a dumb trophy and really thought about mental toughness versus physical fatigue. I knew that I was physically tired, but also knew that I could rely on my mind to push me through those last little bits. The recurring thought...you have given too much to slow down now....think of the investment.

I crossed the finish line five seconds behind Erik and was so tired that I couldn't even find my will to try to surge past him today. It both hurt and felt good to stop running and water has never tasted so good.

Here are the numbers:
Mile 1: 7:53
Mile 2: 8:10
Mile 3: 8:20
last .18: 7:55
Total Miles: 3.18
Total Time: 25:50
Avg Pace: 8.07
2nd Place in Age Group


Michelle K & Michelle B with AG Trophies

I had a blast cheering for my friends, talking to old friends, and making new friends. It was even more fun to have a cheering section when the awards were presented. Michelle B, another Beer & Bagels running friend got 2nd place in her age group as well (I'm thrilled that we will never be in the same age group because that girl is FAST!). After the awards we all headed to the house where Erik was already hard at work on yummy waffles and mimosas. I loved having a house full of sweaty running friends. On Friday, I told Erik that I was hoping that this would become an annual tradition and I was thrilled when Michelle B. said almost the exact words "we should make this a tradition!". I always say that the best part of running is the people that I have met along the way, and this was a perfect example of that. I had no idea when I started running 3 years ago that my circle of friends would be expanded and enriched by so much.

I had such a fun time celebrating my Runnerversary. Later, when everyone was gone, I started thinking about that 1st race and how far I had come as a runner in those last 3 years. I looked up my results from the 2008 Liberty 5K and found that I ran that race in 34:41. I remember how my goal that day was to run the entire time and I remember how excited I was when I crossed the finish line. I had no intention of ever running any further than a 5K and had no idea that I would be completing my first 10K in just a month and a half and my first half marathon in a mere four months. I didn't have real running shoes and I wasn't even dressed like a runner...I should find a picture from that day so you can see. I get so wrapped up in looking at where I want to be next (faster, farther, etc) that I sometimes forget to take a look back and see how far I have come. This running life of mine is a good one indeed!

(Special thanks to Mark L., Corina, and Michelle B. for the great pics!)