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Running Red Lights (Janney 5k)

October 15, 2011 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Not invited to run at Georgetown Prep, but still wanted to get in a race, and see where I am at. Signed up for the Janney 5K, mainly for convenience to get to the bus for Gtown Prep afterwards and my familiarity for the course. Was looking forward to it, because I had never run a road race before, and also because I wouldn't have to be embarrassed in front of the whole team again if I had a bad race.

The main demographic of the race was split between 9 year olds and 40 year olds, because it was the elementary school students and their parents running, which meant that instead of having to be in the back of the pack like I usually am, i got the pleasure of getting to be in the front group of people.

Showed up at 8 and hour before the race, got situated, picked up my chip and went and ran the course. I did the 40 minutes of warmups by myself in some corner of the playground (I'm sure I looked really cool) The race started 10 minutes later than scheduled, which threw off my well timed warmups and led me to wait for 10 minutes in a pack of elementary school kids at the start line. Right before the race went off, I heard Cori screaming my name and turned around. She decided to sign up last minute and race it, which was great, because it meant I wasn't the only person I knew there.

As it started, I had to balance getting out strong without trampling people half my height, because someone decided it was a good idea to put the littlest kids in the front, and have the adults be directly behind them......

Really accelerated down the long hill on Van Ness, I actually got worried If i was going too fast. Told myself to keep going hard until the 1.5 mile point when everyone turns around. Then I " "relaxed" into a focused, steady pace until I got to the Van Ness hill again. My least favorite thing to run on arent short steep hills, but those really long and seemingly never ending uphill ramps, but I got excited for this hill from when I jogged the course, so I accelerated to go up it. Any flicker of lack of motivation was quenched by the fact that there were a few 8 year olds ahead of me. I passed several on the hill, but there still a sizeable group of kids, and middle aged adults I could'nt get to, which reaaaaaly pissed me off. But much to my elation, as I crested the hill and made the sharp turn on 42nd street, I saw a good 9 -10 people just start walking. I took this to my advantage and sped up past them. By then I was about 400m from the finish, so I kept that speed and accelerated even further into a sprint into the finish line. Was shocked by my time, just the fact that it was ticking 23's when I first saw the clock surprised me. Finished in 23, which is almost 2 and a half minutes faster than my last race (even though my last race, was Saleisianum). As I thought about it as I cooled down, I got even more excited, because I realized I was only a minute off my PR and although previously I had thought I was running worse than last season, I ran 24:50 at Prep last year, and today i was a minute faster, with much less training and mileage. (Granted it is a much different course, but I wouldn't say it was easier, that endless hill on Van Ness sucked.)

I really want to run at St. James and prove that that time wasn't a one time fluke, but that I actually have improved and am getting close to PR'ing. For the first time this season, I finally feel like I can run well or maybe even PR at Championships/States.

Cooled down afterwards with Cori. She ran really well, and got a medal for it. I think she was first in her age division, and a full 6 minutes ahead of the second place finisher of her division.

Oh and to explain the title, so my future self doesnt wonder why I made it if I ever read these again, The streetlights were still on and working during the race, even though the roads were cordoned off. So as I was running, alot of the lights were red, and I realized I was literally "running" red lights. Its pretty stupid and not even funny, but I somehow found that hilarious during my race.

Wow this was long, I should really stop procrastinating on my homework by writing Running logs.