Race Report: Hotter n Hell 5k

Last year during HnH 5k, I did it in 37 minutes.  I'm totally aware that a lot of runners would not say that was a good time, but at the shape I was in then, it was.  This year, I was more prepared and about 40 pounds lighter.  So I signed up and was so stoked that this could potentially be the 5k that I finally break 30 minutes in.  I twisted my friend Kim's arm into doing it with me and boy I'm glad she did.  We met in the back parking lot of a Shoney's and rode together.  Such bad girls we are.

We even planned to match!

After taking a bathroom break, and doing a slight trot around the park to "warm up", we were all set to go!  From the very beginning I knew we were going fast. Every single time I looked down at Garmin, we were under a 10 minute pace.  To me, that's flying since most of my training runs are above an 11 minute pace.  But I kept up and hit mile 1 at 9:46.  Uh oh, I was going too fast.  So I slowed down and let Kim go on in the attempt to break 30 minutes.

Mile 2 came and at this point I had cold chills.  NOT GOOD.  I started playing mental games with myself in order to make it up hills and begged God to just get me to the finish.  My mile 2 split was 11:07, an obvious slow down.

I knew I wasn't going to break 30 and I knew I wasn't going to set a PR, I just wanted to be done.  The race ends on a slight uphill grade that seemed never ending once I had to run up it.  I gave it all I had to get up that hill and across that finish line.  Once there, I saw my friend Ed, who knew I was in distress, then let my friend Robyn cut off my chip since she was working the finish line. 

Too bad I didn't look this great at the finish!

I made my way out of the finish chute and just fell to the ground while poor Kim was trying to get me water.  A paramedic came to help me and all I could say was how cold I was.  Too bad its the "Hotter than Hell" 5k.  After being wrapped in a warm blanket and getting fluids in me, I finally felt better.  Whew!  Props to Kim for being a great friend and helping me out because I felt like death!  It had to be embarrassing and scary on her part. 

Actual results have yet to be posted, but I think I came in at 33:10ish.  Not my best, but not my worst, and a whole 4 minutes off last years time!  Go me!!  I'm doing a 5k in about three weeks that I hope to NOT get sick at and actually finish in under 30 minutes.  We'll see.  But all in all today's race was great and even though I became a little ill and didn't get my projected time, it was a learning experience.  Plus, Einstein Bros bagel company gave us free bagel cards for after the race!

Best idea ever?

Well sure, I'd love free chocolate chip and cranberry/cream cheese bagels.

Did you run a race this weekend?  Have any good long runs?  Let me know all about them!!