After recovering from my December marathon and the cancellation of a planned 50k I found myself with a little less than 5 weeks to do a crash course in 5k training. Knowing the race route was a hilly one I divided my hard workouts between hill repeats and speedwork. Everything went well with that and I felt as prepared as I could and ready to take on the challenge.
One thing I wasn't prepared for and neither was anyone else was the record heat that was coming. By the 2 pm start it hit 80 degrees ! I did my usual warmup and just before the start as I was doing my strides I was not feeling good at all and beginning to have doubts about whether to push it. I lined up near the front and close to a few of the people I expected to be racing for the age group and just decided to see what would happen.
I took it very easy until we started on the first downhill at around 1/4 mile and was relieved to be comfortable with the pace and by half mile I passed the one guy I was sure was my age that used to finish in front of me most of the time. That first mile went quite well and with the loop near halfway I was able to see the bulk of the runners that were behind me. One of the great things about running in these local events is knowing so many participants and volunteers. I was encouraged and motivated by the many cheers and folks calling out my name all along the course.
I passed about the halfway point right on pace for what I was hoping for and thinking I would need to do for the win but I was hurting and the hot dry air already had me with a bad case of cotton mouth. I really wanted some water as I passed the tables but I didn't want to slow down and it really is only another 1.5 to go right ?
I took advantage of the downhill to the two mile mark by pushing it a bit and I passed a racer that has beaten me more times than not over the years when I run these shorter events. I know he is getting close to turning 60 if he hasn't already and I really want to stay ahead of him. We start up the first of several short hills and he passes me back but I regain the lead on the next little bit of downhill. Then we hit the steepest nastiest hill and I feel like dying and the I am making my death noises as I give it all and hope he doesn't pass me.
The hill levels out a bit and about the 2.5 mile mark we pass a course monitor. I know she meant well but when she said to "mind the heat and take it easy" I was thinking seriously? I've got a tough competitor three steps behind me and I'm trying to catch another grey haired unknown up ahead of me. No way I'm taking it easy. I'm RACING !
By now I am making my usual death noises and pushing just as hard as I possibly can and then I finally see the last turn and the 3 mile mark. Less than a minute of intense pain to go. I don't really have another gear and heart and lungs are at max so I just hope I don't get passed. And then finally its over. As I hunch over gasping in agony a young guy that finished just in front of me comes back and ask if I'm ok. I stand up straight and smile and pat him on the shoulder and say, yes, thank you , I feel great ! Racing hard is like a near death experience followed by a feeling of living life to its fullest.
While I wait for the results I go to text my best friend my time of 22:43 and then wait to hear if I won. Before I can make it back to the finish area a friend congratulates me on my win ! Woohoo ! I did it ! Never in even my wildest dreams could I have predicted that I would win the RRCA State Championships 5k, 10k and the half marathon for Senior Grandmasters. A lot of things had to all go very right for me to accomplish this. I am blessed with great support from family and friends, a great training partner and good health. I worked hard and never gave up hope battling the previous 2 years of injury. Training smarter and doing all the yoga and cross training have been the key but mainly it is the love of what I do. Go out and chase your dreams. Sometimes they come true if you work for it.
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