It had been a long time since I ran a 5K about four years to be exact. The last 5K I ran was in March 2009. It was the Big Ten Hoops 5K. We were training for some Spring races. Lindsey was going to do Boston and I was going to Kentucky Derby. I ran a 19:35.

Flash forward, 4 years and I was really wanting to run a 5K again. I had planned on running one out in Brownsburg the other weekend but then ended up going to the Pearl Jam at Wrigley Field…so that 5K was out.

Lindsey had told me about the Carmel Road Racing Group 5K Summer Series a couple weeks ago. She is doing some PR work on the side for Todd and CRRG and it seemed like a great idea. $10, a measured course, a chipped time, and an afterparty.

The 1st one was last Thursday @ 6:40. Do you want to hear my race review? It sucked! It was hard. It was humid. My legs hurt. It hurt. I ran a 17:40. I had grand illusions that I would be able to break 17…haha that is funny. I had done a 5×1 mile repeat workout the week earlier nailing the repeats in 5:25 or so I thought sub 17 would be fine. WRONG!!! Running is funny like that. Somedays it works, somedays it does not.  Coming into to the race, I had raced Eagle Creek four days earlier and did a nine mile tempo run the day before…so yeah I was in prime racing shape. Not sure what I was thinking there. Apparently I am delusional.

I must say though it is a great series. Cheap, fun course (not fast…but fair), cool swag, beer samples…did I mention cheap?

Here are some pics from me suffering last week. Terry Fletcher from Indiana Trail Running was out taking pics…they are amazing! Hopefully he’ll be out for all the races.

This might be the coolest pic EVER

Race Start. The two guys in matching jersey’s won Lindsey BoMF relay last year. Team Honey Badger

Thinking this won’t be bad

My back looks huge. Clock time was 17:36…my watch said 17:40

Wrong. End of Suffering. Somehow I won.

The next race in the series is next Thursday, August 22nd. I’ll be racing again…and hopefully on fresh…at least fresher  legs this time. I am going to take that shot at 17 again. I think I can get it with some good legs.

We all met before the race to circle up and head to the start line- and everyone was off. The guys running the half marathon were running their third half in four weeks. They are hooked. 

I was of course sticking to the 5K and my secret goal was to run sub 10 minute miles. Glenn ran with me and I told him my goal we crossed mile 1. At that time I asked him our pace and he said 10:10. I felt like I was running much fast than that. Par.

Mile 2 was a lot of up and down hills and I was feeling really great, it turned our our average pace for that mile was 8:47. I don’t know when the last time I ran a sub 9 minute mile was. We were also passing a lot of people the whole race, so that gave me a bit of confidence. I usually just run on the monon and pass no one while getting passed by everyone. No matter how fast or slow, how pregnant or not, it always feels good to pass people.

As we were heading into mile three– I started getting weird cramps in my belly and it kind of freaked me out. Naturally we slowed down and I kicked myself thinking why in the world did I push so much just because I wanted to break a 10 minute mile for a 5K? Not worth it. I guess I didn’t realize I had pushed that much until that moment though. I immediately started thinking about the extra heartbeat and the baby I am preparing to meet in 6 weeks and decided to not push that much again until I’m actually in labor.

So we slowed down for mile 3– but had banked enough time that we crossed the finish line in 29:38. 9:34 pace. I felt satisfied. I’m considering this race my 8 month pregnant PR. It’s only a good 9-10 minutes slower than my real 5K PR, but I’ll take it.

Under 30 Minutes. Yay!

Thanks for shuffling along with me.

Congrats to all who ran the race- I know there were many PRs in the 5K for our new Back on My Feet Residential Members.

As soon as the race was over, we hit the road to Crown Point for a little baby shower that Glenn’s mom had for us. When we arrived, I headed out for a pedicure and Glenn headed out for a 13 mile run. 

As for today- I just finished up a very slow, hot and humid three miles and he went out for a four hour bike ride at 6:30am. I’m expecting a very sweaty and very hungry husband to be arriving shortly.

Do you think we like to work out?