Form Follows Fitness 5K

Race: Form Follows Fitness 5K
Watch Time: 25:18
Official Time: 24:49
Pace: 7:59 min/mi

Comments: I signed up for this 5K at the last minute for several reasons but none more important than the fact I haven't run ANY race in almost two years. And since the course was through the Dallas arts district, I figured it would be a nice welcome back.

It was a pretty crowded field with more than 2,500 runners. Since the start was on some of the narrower streets, my first mile wasn't a spectacular pace. Toward the end of it things started clearing up a little and I could settle into a more steady groove. Of course I went too fast but remembering that (and not doing it next week) was a big part of the reason I ran this.

The course had a decent amount of downhill over the first two miles but a lot of uphill on the last one. I kind of knew this was coming from running races in downtown before so it wasn't a surprise. Still, never a lot of fun.

I was hoping to get under the 8 min/mi mark but the slow start kept that from happening. Still, I think the effort to produce that goal was clearly there. Obviously, I ain't taking a stab at that next week.

UPDATE: The official chip time was 24:49 which put me under the 8 min/mi threshold. Yay me!

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 34:26
Pace: 8:35 min/mi

Comments: Got started late due to work but the days are long enough now that's not the grim prospect it once was. This early spring weather makes the temperatures about perfect at that point also. I probably need to do a few chilly runs this week to prepare for the race.

The bad news is I have about ten days before the half marathon. The good news is my conditioning hasn't atrophied as much as I feared with the unplanned ten days off. The runs this week have felt encouragingly strong. So it's a matter of getting in a few more quality runs and hoping for the best.

Fitness Run

Distance: 4 miles
Time: 33:39
Pace: 8:23 min/mi

Comments: Another unplanned layoff. It hasn't been a stellar two weeks. The absence of workouts is a symptom of that. Not a hell of a lot of excuse. The morning have been nippy but every afternoon has been damn near ideal to run.

So I'm back at it. Very strong today because, gee whiz, maybe I'm all rested or something. I'm still planning on doing the half marathon but, thanks to this lack of training, it's now promising to be a death march. Thanks me.