I ran my second organized race this past saturday the 14th. It was a flat course 5k, I was really hoping to beat my last time of 27:42 even though I was not training for it.
After my last 5k about a month ago I had not fully realized how important stretching was for me. Now when I run I stretch before, after about 0.5 miles and when I finish. Then, I stretched a little bit before and then ran the race. Up until this point I had not run past 3 miles and even then I hadn’t pushed myself. So after the first 5k I didn’t stretch and my calves the next week were horrible. I could barely walk, I hobbled around like I had peg legs. I would have offended someone with peg legs because I looked horrible. I winced every morning and all throughout the day. I ran 1 mile that next week and the next week brought a block of tests where I didn’t run much either.
So coming into this race I was hoping for better than 27 min but I was terribly ill-prepared. I started at the gunshot at a reckless pace for myself, at the first mile I had run a 6 minute mile and was in 5th place overall. Then came the next mile and I felt like I was going to die. My breath was coming in tearing gasps and my calves felt really tired. My two mike split was 17 minutes. As soon as the timer yelled this to me I nearly crumpled, I shouldn’t have been expecting better but I had been. So with this demoralizing statement I just started running for the heck of it, my race was over except to just finish.
I started running and walking when I felt like it. I didn’t get another boost until about 2.5 miles when I was walking and a lady ran past me and shouted, “those fivefingers killing your calves?”. This is all I needed, a lady passing me and poking fun. So I now had a goal, simply to beat her no matter the cost.
I ended up running the rest of the way and really making up some time. I did beat my prior time of 27:42 with a time of 27:13. Not near what I wanted but it was ok. This was a flat course though and I should have expected at least that time difference.
My post-race thoughts are a little back and forth. I know if I had not run at a killing pace (for me) for the 1st mile I could have done better. After that mile I was worn out and couldn’t really get back into a groove. But, I should not have expected a better time because I didn’t push for it. I didn’t train hard enough and I was lazy.
Also, my dad and I ran both of these races and beat our old paces by the same time. The only difference is he didn’t run AT ALL between the two races. So props to him and shame on me.
On another note, my legs felt much better after all the stretching. And I truly believe it was the stretching that did it.
I will push harder before my next race which is in 2 weeks. I will run more and be faster next time and my last mile will be my fastest.
Tags: 5k, barefoot, running, Vibram FiveFingers
