Another Running First - Racing a 5K

Looks like tonight will mark another first in my progression as a runner … racing a 5k.  I got an email a couple days back from one of my relay teammates with a link to a charity race tonight for Juvenile Diabetes, and since there amazingly aren't any conflicts with one of my kids’ activities, I’m going to give it a go.  The fact that the race entry fee includes two beers and dinner after the race may have had something to do with the decision … but I’ll go the altruistic route and say it’s all about the charity.

Technically this will be the second 5k that I have ‘run’, but the first was a very different experience.  Last year my son decided he wanted to try a 5k, so we signed up for one and ran it together.  We actually mostly walked it together, but it was a lot of fun, and the fact that it was his idea was awesome.  We finished next-to-last, and next-to-next-to-last, and I’ve never been happier with a result.

Since the run with my son was chip-timed, technically my 5k PR is 52:51, which I’m fairly confident means I’ll get a new PR tonight.  I really have no idea what kind of strategy or pace to use for a 5k.  I’m pretty sure I can hang somewhere around a 7:00 mile for 3.1 miles, so I figure I’ll just go out and try to settle into a 7:00 pace and see how I feel.  Bottom line it’s for a good cause, and no matter how much I might flail during the race they’re still going to feed me, so it should be a good time.