This is the race that made me want to race…again. For the past year I had been focusing on longer distances like full and half marathons. My goal with those was to try to run fast, yes, but mostly to be in an upright position at the finish line. After 3 halfs and 1 full in four months, I was ready for a break. So I took one. But then a month or two later, I ran the Dallas Cup 5K.
I ran it for a few reasons: 1) Some friends were. 2) It was close to my house. 3) It benefited a soccer organization (me heart soccer). 4) I don’t remember what 4) was.
But after months of mostly cruising along in my races, I was in for a shorter faster distance. And there was a guy running who I find kind of creepy and I wanted to beat him. And some of my elite friends (one of whom is going for the 2016 Olympics) were running, and that kind of inspired me. And there were a TON of kids running. OK, I don’t know how much they all really weighed, but there was a bunch, let’s say. And the thing about kids, they don’t like to lose. They take off like meatloaf out of hell at the start. Can’t keep it up, so they walk. But as soon as they hear your footsteps behind them they take off on a sprint….until they stop and walk. Repeat. I want to trip those little cuties.
But anywhoodle, all that inspiration made me push it. I did not bad for not having done a lick of speed work. 22:28, 7th in age group.
I should have been holding up seven fingers.
With that little bit of limited success on limited training, the competitive bug re-bit me. Since then I’ve been really getting into running. I won’t ever be as fast as I was in high school. And I won’t be elite. But I can compete in my age group (and with creepy people from other age groups). So it’s good to have that fire.
Peace out homeys!
Piratebobcat 