Race Recap: Stars & Stripes 5k
Let me dust off this old blog, and see if I remember how to do this.
I have got to be better about writing my recaps. Too much time has passed since my Stars and Stripes 5k and I know I don't remember it exactly as I did the week following.
I will start by saying that the M-town Race Series is easily my favorite race series. Ok, so maybe it's the only race series I've completed. Minor detail. It really has all the fun summer races in it. I felt like after each race I said, "That one was my favorite!" Stars and Stripes was no different.
This was my first race that I would have Brooklyn & Jeremy there to cheer me on. Thanks to my friend Lora for bringing B. This made it possible for me to get there in time and not have to backtrack. Another awesome friend picked up my race packet so that gave us a little time to hang out, find our other friends, and take pictures of course.
Sidenote: How cute are my friends?! I love dressing up for themes or holidays, so this race was great for that. So many awesome red, white and blue race clothes.
On to the running portion...we had really great weather. I mean, it's July in the South...it is usually a million degrees outside. It was comfortable. Everyone seemed pretty chilled out at the start too. I was worried with there being so many people that it would be hard to get off to a good start. People spaced out a little and took their time getting up to the start. I was fairly close to the front, but I noted that the timer was at 2 minutes by the time I crossed the line.
The course was mostly flat (or maybe I've forgotten rolling hills) and shady for the first half. I found someone a little faster than me and chased her for almost two miles. Then she apparently got a burst of energy that I was lacking, and she left me in the dust. My Nike said I was running slower than my PR pace, but I'm starting to learn Nike can be a little liar. My legs were getting tired on the last half mile but I was trying my best to keep running. I remember feeling like I was running through molasses or running so slowly I felt like I was actually going backwards at times. I got a little burst when I rounded the last turn. I gave it all I had because I knew my loves were waiting somewhere along the finish line. I happened to look up and see the clock said 35 minutes....which meant 33 running minutes for me. I was ecstatic! That may be slow to some. That may be fast, but for me that meant a PR. Official time- 33:39. My goal is a sub30 5k and I'm trying to do it by the end of the year.
To celebrate my PR, I got a new tank and new running top after the race. So much for my "no new workout clothes" ban I put on myself. I also got a tank for Brooklyn and a running tech shirt for Jeremy. I got those with the stipulation they had to start running with me. Ask me how many times they have run with me since....if you guessed 0, you'd be right.
After the race, we ate typical 4th of July food (hamburgers, hot dogs) along with typical post race foods (bananas, oranges) and hung out around the fountain. Once it got dark, it was time for some fireworks.
On to the running portion...we had really great weather. I mean, it's July in the South...it is usually a million degrees outside. It was comfortable. Everyone seemed pretty chilled out at the start too. I was worried with there being so many people that it would be hard to get off to a good start. People spaced out a little and took their time getting up to the start. I was fairly close to the front, but I noted that the timer was at 2 minutes by the time I crossed the line.
The course was mostly flat (or maybe I've forgotten rolling hills) and shady for the first half. I found someone a little faster than me and chased her for almost two miles. Then she apparently got a burst of energy that I was lacking, and she left me in the dust. My Nike said I was running slower than my PR pace, but I'm starting to learn Nike can be a little liar. My legs were getting tired on the last half mile but I was trying my best to keep running. I remember feeling like I was running through molasses or running so slowly I felt like I was actually going backwards at times. I got a little burst when I rounded the last turn. I gave it all I had because I knew my loves were waiting somewhere along the finish line. I happened to look up and see the clock said 35 minutes....which meant 33 running minutes for me. I was ecstatic! That may be slow to some. That may be fast, but for me that meant a PR. Official time- 33:39. My goal is a sub30 5k and I'm trying to do it by the end of the year.
To celebrate my PR, I got a new tank and new running top after the race. So much for my "no new workout clothes" ban I put on myself. I also got a tank for Brooklyn and a running tech shirt for Jeremy. I got those with the stipulation they had to start running with me. Ask me how many times they have run with me since....if you guessed 0, you'd be right.
After the race, we ate typical 4th of July food (hamburgers, hot dogs) along with typical post race foods (bananas, oranges) and hung out around the fountain. Once it got dark, it was time for some fireworks.
This is apparently how you take pictures of fireworks these days. She missed half the show trying to take the right selfie #tweens
And being the hypocrite I am, then we took a selfie, eh um, I mean an usie? I don't know. And yes, I was so cold in July I had to get my race shirt out and put it on. And I was still cold!
First M-town Race Series is over, but I think this is going to be a yearly tradition. I loved all these races even the Gibson which was my worst. I definitely recommend anyone in the area to sign up for all or at least one of these series races.
First M-town Race Series is over, but I think this is going to be a yearly tradition. I loved all these races even the Gibson which was my worst. I definitely recommend anyone in the area to sign up for all or at least one of these series races.
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