Who says you can’t PR at 54?

After having a great 10 miler on Sunday, I had a 5K circuit race the next Saturday. If it wasn’t a circuit race, I would not have gone because I was already signed up for a half marathon the very next day. I wanted to do well for my Fleet Feet team, so my strategy was to really try for the 5K and take the half marathon easy.

Race day for the 5K was chilly and very windy. I didn’t see either Laura or Melissa, the only two I worry about, so I had a good chance of winning my age group. Talk about feeling sluggish, I just couldn’t get going even after a good warm up. I am not a 5K runner. I know it sounds crazy but that distance is too short for me.

My first mile was a 6:55 (perfect, if I could just keep it up). It was not a completely flat course although not hilly either. The slopes along with the wind affected everyone’s times. Second mile was slower (7:05) and the last mile was well, too slow. I finished with a disappointing 22:45 time, but it was good enough for a 1^st place finish in my age group which helped out the team.

I always feel sluggish for the first 3 miles but then get a second wind at 4. I knew I had a better chance at the half than the 5K. For some reason I felt great the next day. I saw Joe, a fellow runner I train with, and we both decided to run together at a 7:30 pace and see how long we can keep up that pace. I did a 7:30 average for 10 miles the week before, so I figured what’s 3 more miles?

It was a relatively flat course except for 3 overpasses. My first 9 miles were exactly at a 7:30 pace. I started slowing down after that but by only seconds. Joe really slowed down after that too so I ran by myself after that point. Around mile 11 I realized that I can break 1:40 which would be a PR for me if I could keep up a 7:45 pace for the last 2 miles.

I caught up with someone at mile 11 who stuck up a conversation with me. He asked what my time goal was, and I replied that it is possible to break 1:40 but that it would be tough. He looked surprised and said that he had never broken 1:40 either. We then ran together after that. He seemed really encouraged. About a half mile left to go, I started to struggle and told him to go on and that he could still break 1:40. He ran ahead but kept yelling back at me and waving his hands for me to go faster. He really pulled me through. I encouraged him when he was down, and now he was doing the same for me.

I pushed harder like never before. I saw the clock and thought OMG I can do this! I crossed the finish line at 1:39:49, a PR!

People have been telling me that I’m training too hard, and that I should take some time off, especially after Boston and then the 10 miler, and now the half. I really don’t train that hard. My typical week of training consists of:
* Monday – 1 hour bike and 1 hour yoga right afterwards
* Tuesday – 5.2 miles on flat course
* Wednesday – workouts at the track in the spring & summer (1 hour weights and 1 hour yoga in fall & winter)
* Thursday – 45 min circuit training (rotate between abs, steps, weights, & cardio)
* Friday – Rest
* Saturday – my long run day (anywhere from 8 miles to 20) on hilly course
* Sunday – 10.6 miles on hilly course
So I’m really only running 3-4 days a week depending on the season, 30-40 miles per week. Proper rest every day is key, and I try to get that.

So that said, I’m still trying to go up to Green Bay to do the marathon on 5/18 if I can get a hotel room. I’ve been calling to see if there are cancellations with no luck. I have a feeling I’ll have to wait until the very last week.