Pikesville 5K 2013 Race Report

This race went through several different plans.  I originally signed up for it on a lark, to see if I could PR my 5K times.  I'd asked Paige if she wanted to run it with me and she declined.  A couple of weeks before we left on vacation to Texas, she noticed a sign on the side of the road, and decided she really wanted to run it.  Jen won free entry through a local contest, and the plan was changed to us running it together.  At that point we had about three weeks to vamp Paige up to being ready. It didn't happen.

Vacation was busy.  While I was maintaining my running streak, Paige did not want to get in runs. She did two 1 mile runs with me, and she really didn't want to do them.  After vacation, I had a work trip (was only in Maryland for about 15 hours), and she got in one run (I think) that week.  Jen discussed with Paige that she hadn't really trained for this one, and if she really wanted to, she could drop to the one mile fun run. After a night of thinking about it, she decided to drop down.  So again, plans changed and I was back on line to attempt a PR. 

My previous run of the Pikesville 5K was in 2010, right in the middle of my run/walk phase. I completed it in 32:31.  I'm in far better shape than I was at that time, so beating my course record should be no problem.  PRing was iffy.  My previous PR was 28:33 during last year’s Red Rock 5K in Las Vegas.  I don't typically track my times, so I wasn't sure if I would have the right stuff to beat it or not.

The morning was pretty uneventful.  I got up, grabbed some fruit to eat, and headed to the race.  Paige was coming with her dad, Jen and Connor were going to a baseball game after, so they drove separate.

We all met up, and prepared for the race.  I wished Paige good luck and headed off to the start. Soon we were off.  The race day weather was hot and humid, we were right smack in the middle of a heat wave. It took its toll on many runners that day.  

I was moving well.  Water bottle in hand, I flew past the aid station and hit the turn around.  The heat and humidity was getting to me.  I decided to take a quick break and catch my breath shortly before two miles.  The course is not difficult, but the back side does have a slow gradual hill.  Before cresting it, I chose to take another short break, combined, they equaled about a minute.  After my second break, I kicked it into gear, passing Paige and her dad about the 3 mile mark.  She was done and enjoying a post-race snack. No time to chat, I was heading for the finish line.  Rounding the final corner, I made my break and flew past several runners, hitting the finish line in 27:10.  A PR by 1:23!  The heat wave was tough, but I pushed past it and kicked ass!  

In typical Runners Bug fashion, I couldn't leave well enough alone.  About an hour after finishing the race, I was out at Soldiers Delight, where I tacked on an additional 5.7 mile trail run in the dead heat of the day. 

All told, it was an awesome day for running!  

As a side note, Paige commented that she wished she ran the 5K instead.  Apparently she kicked butt on the one miler and was one of the first to finish!  Yay!!