Mary Shepherd ran the Arizona Sunrise Series–Kiwanis 5K and finished with a time of 31:10.
Very happy with this race. Due to construction part of it was run reverse from last year, the part around the lake; and the start was in a slightly different place. But, I ran this about 2:25 faster than last year with a significant negative split this year. The first about half mile is around one side of the lake and has some slight ups and downs before climbing to get on a canal path. Once on the canal path, it is flat, and you run “left” for maybe 3/4 mile, turn around, run back and beyond where you entered the canal, turn around again, head back and then down to finish the rest of the way around the lake, and climb a short incline right at the 3 mile flag for the sprint to the finish. As far as how this felt, when I finally got to the canal path, I felt like I settled in to a fast but doable pace. I did not look at my watch too much, but aimed to keep my pace where it felt hard but comfortable. I was able to start early, about 5:40 before the mass start at 6:30, so there were people running but it was not crowded. I think the best part was getting to that 3 mile flag, seeing the finish line and being able to really kick it in for that last bit. I passed a runner that I thought would take the challenge to race me to the finish, but he didn’t. Overall stats: 238 of 655 total runners, 93 of 407 females and 2/12 in my age group. The first place in my age group was nearly 3 minutes faster and I doubt I will beat her in a race. But it’s all good. I felt amazing when the race was done. Next 5K in the series (of 7 summer 5Ks) is in 2 weeks. I will not be doing all the races, but maybe 3 or 4 of them.
Corrinne Mills ran the YETI 7-11 Challenge Marathon and finished this race in the time of 6:35:46.
The challenge was to run as many 3.2 mile loops as I could in 7 hours, and I managed 9. Actual distance technically 28.8, watch said 29.4. The weather was unfavorable (humid and 80F by the end), but otherwise a lot of things went really well. I achieved my goals of 1) enjoying running in the woods, and 2) going more than a marathon distance in one session. A very solid training block (thanks, Coach Ruairi!) this spring set me up well for success, and doing a “dress rehearsal” of the nutrition a few weeks ago also paid off. I counted up all the fuel (rice balls, Red Bull, stroopwafels, Gatorade, and a couple gels) and averaged 50g carbs per hour. Legs are tired for sure but I’m not feeling too beat up. A great success overall!
Beth Montgomery ran the NYRR RBC Brooklyn Half Marathon with a finishing time of 2:26:19.
I ran at an easy pace for the entire race. It was hillier than I expected in the first half, and the second half was quite warm. My legs got tired at mile 10 and I used walk/run intervals for 2 miles to recover. It was a fun race with lots of cheering and a scenic course.
Maresa Tabar ran the Chicago Tuneup Half Marathon and finished in a time of 1:57:58. This was a PR by 12 seconds!
Course has changed since I ran it last, few hills, one that was pretty long (over .5miles) so despite challenging course was still able to PR 😊
Christine Lee ran the Colfax Marathon and completed this race event in the time of 3:41:52.
I did not bomb the race. I did well. Like a comeback from last year. Ran without watch.
Pros: Form is consistent. Unleashing power in longer distances improved.
Improvements: Practice more split timed by being less afraid of increasing more power over distances. Practice more power exercises for 5k to not be as afraid of power. Focus more fundamentals and ankle kicks for consistent leg work.
Race results: https://results2.xacte.com/#/e/2635/searchable/11935
Joe Allen ran the Rails to Trails 5k, finishing this distance in the time of 26:24.
This is one of the most popular local races and one of the few on level ground. Perfect running weather. Started out comfortably and began moving up the pack about half way through. Won my age group against some good runners and came in 30 out of 92 overall, which as the oldest runner (there was one other guy my age), thought that was pretty good.
At the 2 mile marker, passed a runner that I’ve been finishing right behind this year. Ran a negative split for the second half, so I not only finished ahead of her but the guy who normally challenges me in this race for our age group, so all in all, a good race. My times are getting better thanks to our training schedule.
Stacey Brooks ran the Rhode Island Half Marathon and finished this race event in the time of 1:45:59.
This was a strong effort but bummer in the end! No complaints about any of my prep (training and nutrition felt totally dialed in), but I have regrets about how I handled the race. I felt so good at the start, even with the climb early on, but I should’ve held back more in early miles, especially to account for the heat. It was such a cold winter and spring for training, so to be hit with race temps in the ’70’s, almost 80 by the finish, was not ideal.
I thought I would easily shave off time from my last year’s performance but came up short by 37 seconds! I gave it my all though…fought off some right leg soreness that came on mid-race.
Maybe third time is the charm?! I think I gotta give it another go next year to snatch that sub 1:45/8min pace…no reason I can’t do it!
Christina Kach ran the Margarita 5K and completed this distance in the time of 25:45.
My experiment today was channeling my inner Pre. I went out hard, real hard in mile 1, and held on for dear life in 2 + 3. Anyway – If I was only running 1 mile, that first mile would have been even faster. As it was, and as far as I know/been using a Garmin – that was my fastest mile time, beating the previous one of 7:50. I really wanted to give up in miles 2 and 3, well my brain did, and my quads due to the hills. But I just kept going. I was THIS close, 25 seconds close, to a PR. Which I held onto until 2.7 when a double whammy of hills got me beat. I still pulled out a surge to the finish but the damage had been done. It was 23 degrees warmer than the May 3rd 5K. And this course was harder.
Jason Carroll ran the Bay to Breakers 12k and finished this distance in the time of 1:14:07.
Good to get back out into an atmosphere that was at least somewhat like a race. Due to the crowds and nature of this race as more of a moving party, it was hard to get up to speed and have a steady pace in the first four miles. Still had a lot of fun and was able to speed up as the congestion cleared out in the final miles.
Brad Battin ran a 5k race and finished with a time of 19:41.
This is the first 5K that I’ve actually raced since 2018. I’ve run a handful of 5Ks since then, but usually pushing my daughter in a stroller or just running uncompetitively. I also haven’t been training consistently in the past 3 years.
I was originally supposed to run one race but due to weather, I backed out so I found another one a few days later in a different town. The day was much warmer, and the race was much smaller. Unbeknownst to me, this was a race mostly catered to kids and it was a color run on a paved park bike path, out and back. I also knew nothing of the course, and found out that it was quite hilly. It was not going to be a fast time and the competition was limited.
I’d been training for an average pace of 6:30, and was planning to run about that the first mile as I suspected that I could probably run faster than this and had a stretch goal of running under 19 (depending on how I felt). To put myself in position for either case, I went out at about 6:15 and felt great. Then I realized how hilly the course was going to be. If I’d known beforehand, I would have given up the idea of trying for a sub 19 and would have gone out more conservatively.
The second mile began with a decent, and then a 3/4 mile long hill back up. It wasn’t incredibly steep, but had a sufficient enough grade to make holding the pace difficult. This 200 foot elevation gain, and the fact that I was leading the race comfortably, I pulled back the effort to conserve energy.
The second mile was understandably slower and I was playing it safe, so as I descended that hill going into the third mile, which also had the climb toward the back end of it, I was more or less coasting at a good effort, but somewhat conservative. It was enough to give high-fives to quite a few of the runners as I passed them on the way back which was fun.
When the course leveled back out, I was able to open the stride again and coast to the victory. The time was not what I’d hoped, and I learned a lot about where I am from a fitness and speed standpoint. Overall, it was fun and that’s where I like to keep it. I’ll take this result, and start training for a 10K later in the summer, and perhaps for a half marathon in the fall.
