Ryan House 5K

Well, I know I owe this blog a full marathon story, a half marathon story and some Ragnar stories, but rather than get behind with the NOW here's this morning's story. I've been getting faster recently so I've been wanting to run a 5K to see if I could finally run one in under 30 minutes. Most of you know that I've always aspired to this, but I never was sure if I could ever get there. My last leg of Ragnar last weekend was just shy of a 5K (3.06mi by the Garmin) and I did that in a 28:40, a 9:22 pace, so I figured I am finally ready. It worked out that my IKAG team was off of regular Saturday practice today and the Run for Ryan House was on our schedule instead. I decided to sign up for the 5K.

I got in some good stretching and foam rolling last night. Not as much sleep as I really wanted, but no big deal - 5 hours would do. I woke up around 5:00am and did the pre-run morning rituals. Got on the road and called Sharon on my way to wish her luck. She was doing the 1/2 marathon part of the event so I wanted to remind her that she would ROCK it! :) I checked to see what she was wearing and when I got to the race I noticed her in her Ragnar tech shirt in the line up for the start of the 1/2. I got to give her a send off hug! Can't wait to see how she did! Then I turned around while in line for the port-o and there was Jen and her son Garrett. She was also doing the 5K. Nice to see her out there and wish her luck too. I milled a little with some of my IKAG friends after that and got in the line up. My buddy Tim just had gotten a new Garmin and was disappointed to find out that the battery was dead just before starting. Bummer! Well, I must have been thinking about Tim not using his watch because after the race started I didn't realize until over a mile in that I never started mine! I kept glancing at my pace, but when I looked for the mileage...nothin! Dang! So I started it right then just to get a little tracking out of it.

The course was beautiful through the DC Ranch area. Started running directly towards the beautiful mountains. A little overcast and a little breezy, but overall very nice running weather. The hills at the start we more gradual, but once we got into the last mile the couple hills there weren't so gradual! I started to look around while climbing the hill and saw people start to lose stamina and start walking. I decided I wouldn't let it get to me and just when I thought the climb was over we came around the corner and we're still going up! Oh well...press on! :) By then I knew it wasn't much further so I gave it all I could. I saw my fast friend Patrick, who was finished in 20 min, near the end cheering for me. Even more of a boost! I ran for the finish and for once actually looked up at the gun time just before crossing since I knew I didn't have an accurate time on the watch. I saw 27:08 and I was rubbing my eyes after I crossed looking back up at the back side of the clock. I just said to myself, "Sweet!" My friend Michael was taking pics for Zazoosh at the finish too, so I was happy to see him as he snapped my pic and he told me "Good job!" Super smiley now, I grabbed a banana and some water and went back along the course to cheer for Tim. When Tim finished, Patrick, his friend Naomi, Tim and I milled around for the free stuff and then eventually parted ways.

I was happy to come home to look up my chip time - 26:53, an 8:39 pace with hills. I'll take it! :) Definitely a PR - blew that 30:12 out of the water. Hmmm...maybe that flat Run for the Islands is next!