Tuesday, 16 August 2005
Running Time
The very first 5K I ran in 1998, the Bruegger's Bagel 5K, it poured. The skies literally opened up and it rained the entire race. I didn't even really get to start the race dry. My shoes and socks were soaked. My clothers were soaked. My body was soaked. I've always told myself that it was my indoctrination into running and that it had to be an awful experience. It can only be better the next race, right?
Fast forward 7 years to August of 2005. It's been maybe 4 years I've run a race. Today I thought I had to be re-indoctrinated into running. Driving home from work, it was pouring. The rain wasn't torrential, but it was raining ... hard. I figured there was again no chance of starting the race dry. But damnit, I paid that $15 for my medium long-sleeve t-shirt, racing number, complimentary Fig Newton bar, bank promotional material, and 4 safety pins and I wasn't about to let all of that go to waste. Besides, I was mentally focused on running the 5K.
I got home. I ate a biscuit. I changed clothes. I packed a change of clothes. I grabbed my iPod and iPod armband. I hopped in the car. 5 minutes later I was at the YMCA. Thankfully the rain had stopped and there was really no sign of it returning. All was good.
I forgot my iPod headphones. Screw that 24.5 minute running mix! I didn't need it anyway.
The run started off fine. There wasn't any crowding like in the megalithic Corporate Challenge. It was basically an entirely flat course so it was fast. My breathing was consistent and regular for the entire race. Coming around the final turn I saw the clock and just went for it. In every race I've ever done, no matter how bad I feel at the end of the race, I can always conjure up a burst at the end to get me there just a little quicker.
23:29.
I beat my predicted time by a solid minute. And then I went for some sushi and had a sake.
