I am in hot pursuit of something I want so bad I am dropping my love of grammar in this sentence to express it. I want redemption, vindication, and wish fulfillment. I want to fly by the seat of my pants. I want to run fast and hard and get it done. I want to hit the 5k jackpot in my mind:
3 sevens*
Blackjack. Kaching.
Not long ago, I thought the 5k was a royal waste of time and money. So short, not worth it. I ran 5ks with friends and family to kind of mosey along on a little joggy jog. But something changed in me in the last few months, and now I get it. It helped that I've started winning AG awards in my last two 5ks, and that kind of extrinsic validation turns out to suit my shallow side quite well. Yes, running is a beautiful practice and process, but I kind of like the brutality of the chase and the gratification of seeing my name in the top 3 for my age, even if there are only 6 people in my group**. It also turns out I'm more competitive than I thought.
And then there's my performance at the 5k a few weeks ago. I so wanted that 21 minutes on the clock, and I missed it by 9 seconds. I'm traveling back to Central PA for the long weekend***, but I found a 5k on Monday morning. I'm going to run that race like a bat outta hell, then get in the car for another 8-hour drive, hopefully with a shiny AG award, an overly inflated ego, and 3 sevens on my splits.
I'm particularly motivated because the race is in my old 'hood, where I went to high school and suffered the cliched gym class mortification of many adult runners. I need to unload that baggage, preferably in the first mile to help me run a negative split and meet my goal.
So, 21 minutes please. To go out and do what I need to do.
*and I'll give the extra tenth to the running Gods in however many seconds they require
**I have a theory of why I'm winning these awards in the small, short, local races. I am at the age that most women are having babies, so the fact that I have a 4-year-old puts me at a competitive advantage.
***and running long alone, so dear God, please prevent sketchy guy from finding me.
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19 comments:
You can do it!!! I know you can -- three sevens...no problem for a fast (and getting faster) chick like you! :)
5k's are a lot of fun. It looks like you are chasing the same 5k pace I am. My PR is 22:24, which I've actually done twice. Good luck with the race!
Best of luck in your pursuit of trip 7s!
Fingers crossed for a 21 for you!
It's in the bag, sista. Just pretend a bear is chasing you. Or maybe your past. or your future. or something.
And don't short change your AG victories. 30-34 is a super competitive AG.
You can do it!
GOOD LUCK!!! you can do it! And I know exactly how you feel...I will run a great big race with not a care in the world about my time, but darn it if I don't show up to a local 5k and stare down every single 25-29 female with the evil eyes...i WANT those age group placings! It's addicting...
I just had the SAME goal! Was just hoping to get under 22... clock to say 21:59 would have been fine with me... It hurt like hell but I got it by *welcoming* the pain when it came... by trying to make myself suffer as much as possible... glad to feel the suffering... and when I hit mile 3 in 21 flat I knew I had it in the bag and the last tenth hardly hurt at all as I floated in across the line. Go get it!!! Yeehaw!
Just pretend that I am running annoyingly in front of you and you are trying to catch me and we are on a hill and you not only want me to run up said hill but you want me to pass people too. That should work. Either that or picture a big fat martini at the finish.
Good luck! Have fun! Thinking of you...xo
That's an excellent time goal.
As for me, I tend to kick butt in very small local 5K's in which there is a bad turnout because of lousy weather. That's when I score my AG awards!
There's no other way to run a 5k other than like a bat out of hell (and it sounds like you'll be 'gone when the morning comes.' Or, at least, early afternoon.)
Good luck chasing away those demons!
You can totally do this. I think you can also definitely outrun sketchy guy should you be unfortunate enough to cross his path once again.
Kick some ass, K!
"I've started winning AG awards in my last two 5ks, and that kind of extrinsic validation turns out to suit my shallow side quite well." those words could have come directly out of my mouth..I have not WON anything yet but taking 10th sure made me smile. All the best with your JACKPOT!!
Go get it!
Rock it and then blog it! Can't wait.
Good luck! You are so close. I'm sure you'll get it!
What AG group are you in? I'm crazy scared to enter into the 30-35 AG. You all seem so serious LOL. But that maybe just the way it is around here?!?
love small races and the 30-35 age group...if all the fast runners stay home i can place too!!! i've embraced 5ks because with a 5month old i just don't have time to run long anymore.
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