Yesterday, I ran a race! I RAN A RACE! It's been SO long since I've been able to say that! It was so much fun so I'm glad that I have another on Saturday!
After taking 8+ weeks off of running due to a stress fracture, I've been lucky enough to be pain free for about 5 weeks. But, my mileage has still been low, and many of my miles have been slower than I'm used to, so I didn't know what to expect at the 5k yesterday.
I got home from work early so had time to take a little nap before heading to Brooklyn. I woke up before my alarm went off, which never happens, and was suddenly REALLY nervous! What if my leg hurt and I couldn't finish? What if I crashed and burned? What if I totally forgot how to race? I was really excited, but also really nervous!
Beth texted me my bib number for the Oakley Mini 10k just before I got on the subway- 320! I've never had a three digit bib number for a NYRR race and have never been in the blue corral before. It got me really excited and reminded me that I do know how to race, even if I haven't been able to do it recently.
On the subway, I decided that I would wear my Garmin, but would only look at it for distance, and maybe mile splits. I wanted to run by feel- comfortably hard, but not all out racing, since I haven't done any tempo runs/speedwork since February and wasn't sure how my leg would feel with much faster paces.
Once I got off the subway at Grand Army Plaza, I ran a little over a mile to registration, and saw Steph and Carla. We chatted until it was time to walk over to the starting line. The race series is so small (although a lot bigger this year than last!) and laid back- I love it! (It's also only $5 per race, for anyone interested that hasn't done it before!)
The director made some announcements and then we were off! The first mile has the only big hill in Prospect Park. I was running a comfortable pace and knew that the hardest part was over once I made it to the top.
Mile 1: 7:32
I was feeling really good and was just so happy to be running a race again! The end of mile 2 ended at the bottom of a big downhill, so I picked up some speed there.
Mile 2: 7:14
Around mile 2.25, I started to feel a little tired but at mile 2.5, something changed and I was ready to pick it up and pass some people! I passed two or three girls at the end, and finished feeling really strong!
Mile 3: 7:26
Last 0.1: 6:33
I haven't seen a 6 on my watch in SO long! I was so happy when I saw this after I finished! Total time: 22:50. This isn't a PR, but actually is much faster than I was expecting/hoping for yesterday! I wanted a few things for the race yesterday: 1) for my leg to feel good 2) to feel strong 3) to run a smart race. I feel like I accomplished all of these things so I'm really happy. I can't wait to toe the line for twice the distance on Saturday! Nevermind that I haven't run more than 4.8 miles since February....Details, details!! :)
I'm going to miss the Al Goldstein Speed Series race in 2 weeks since I'll be in Hawaii(!) but will definitely be back for more later this summer, and hopefully feeling stronger and faster!
After taking 8+ weeks off of running due to a stress fracture, I've been lucky enough to be pain free for about 5 weeks. But, my mileage has still been low, and many of my miles have been slower than I'm used to, so I didn't know what to expect at the 5k yesterday.
I got home from work early so had time to take a little nap before heading to Brooklyn. I woke up before my alarm went off, which never happens, and was suddenly REALLY nervous! What if my leg hurt and I couldn't finish? What if I crashed and burned? What if I totally forgot how to race? I was really excited, but also really nervous!
Beth texted me my bib number for the Oakley Mini 10k just before I got on the subway- 320! I've never had a three digit bib number for a NYRR race and have never been in the blue corral before. It got me really excited and reminded me that I do know how to race, even if I haven't been able to do it recently.
On the subway, I decided that I would wear my Garmin, but would only look at it for distance, and maybe mile splits. I wanted to run by feel- comfortably hard, but not all out racing, since I haven't done any tempo runs/speedwork since February and wasn't sure how my leg would feel with much faster paces.
Once I got off the subway at Grand Army Plaza, I ran a little over a mile to registration, and saw Steph and Carla. We chatted until it was time to walk over to the starting line. The race series is so small (although a lot bigger this year than last!) and laid back- I love it! (It's also only $5 per race, for anyone interested that hasn't done it before!)
The director made some announcements and then we were off! The first mile has the only big hill in Prospect Park. I was running a comfortable pace and knew that the hardest part was over once I made it to the top.
Mile 1: 7:32
I was feeling really good and was just so happy to be running a race again! The end of mile 2 ended at the bottom of a big downhill, so I picked up some speed there.
Mile 2: 7:14
Around mile 2.25, I started to feel a little tired but at mile 2.5, something changed and I was ready to pick it up and pass some people! I passed two or three girls at the end, and finished feeling really strong!
Mile 3: 7:26
Last 0.1: 6:33
I haven't seen a 6 on my watch in SO long! I was so happy when I saw this after I finished! Total time: 22:50. This isn't a PR, but actually is much faster than I was expecting/hoping for yesterday! I wanted a few things for the race yesterday: 1) for my leg to feel good 2) to feel strong 3) to run a smart race. I feel like I accomplished all of these things so I'm really happy. I can't wait to toe the line for twice the distance on Saturday! Nevermind that I haven't run more than 4.8 miles since February....Details, details!! :)
I'm going to miss the Al Goldstein Speed Series race in 2 weeks since I'll be in Hawaii(!) but will definitely be back for more later this summer, and hopefully feeling stronger and faster!
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| Left to right: Meggie, me, Laura, Jocelyn, Steph, Carla and Jeremy |
Well done, what a great time and bet it felt AMAZING too! ENjoy getting back into the running :)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Rachel! Was so great to be back out there with friends!
DeleteGlad you had such a great comeback race! See you in the blue corral on Saturday!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Carla! See you tomorrow! :)
DeleteNice job, Abby! It sounds like your comeback race couldn't have gone any better!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Carrie! Was just so much fun! We should run together again soon!
DeleteCongrats on the great race!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lisa!! See you tomorrow for your last NYC race!! :(
DeleteI'm a new reader! Just read that you had to take 5 weeks off. I am healing from a broken tibia (haven't run since march 20). How did you find getting back into running? What kinds of exercise did you do while you weren't running?
ReplyDeleteThanks for reading! My stress fracture was in my tibia so can relate! I was off completely for 8 weeks and mostly off for 2 weeks before that. Took forever but makes running even better once you're back at it!
DeleteI did a lot of spin, strength and core work while injured. At first, it was really hard to run but after a few weeks, I started feeling like my old self! My mileage is still way down but I'm happy that my paces are coming back to me quicker than I expected!
Feel better and hope you're able to get back out there soon! Let me know if you have any other questions!
Congratulations Abby!! So excited that you are back! And I can't wait to run together more this summer.
ReplyDeleteALSO - YOU FORGOT TO MENTION HOW YOU ARE A PUSH-UP MASTER.
YES! Can we please run together soon?!?!? You can teach me how to run fast, speedy! :)
Deleteand I'll teach you how to do some push ups :)
DeleteWOOWWW speedy! You are so fast. Congrats. It always feels great to get back out there after an injury. Great job.
ReplyDeleteThank you! It's the BEST feeling to be back out there after being out of running for weeks!!
Delete