Run for Tony 5k

I had reservations about running this race. Not about the race itself, but that I might be disappointed by my finish time. Last November, I ran the NJEA Boardwalk 5k, shattering my best time by two minutes, and winning a prize for my age category. That achievement was salt in the wound when I clocked my worst 5k time last March.

I allowed that feeling of disappointment get the best of me until today. I haven’t run another race since last March, and my voice of self-doubt questions whether my finish time will more closely resemble my best or worse race- mentally convinced of the latter. It is easier to not try than it is to try your all and fail. I considered running a conservative race- take the first half at an 8:00 minute / mile pace, and run negative splits for the back half. At least I could finish the race feeling strong. That was the plan.

Many of the Wednesday night running group from the Haddonfield Running Company came out in support of the race. There were a half-dozen runners from the HRC that I could pace- namely Kevin and my racing partner Jon. I could let myself down, but it’s so much harder to let others down as well. Not that they would actually be disappointed my time, but my self-conscious thoughts about how they would assess me as a runner. Call it running reflexivity.

Suffice it to say that I paced Kevin, an overweight, injured, runner approaching middle-age that has the mental attitude to win. Despite his appearance, this guy is light on his feet. I drafted him much in the same way that Jon drafts me. He set an ambitious pace for the first mile, clocking a 7:24 split. We ran consistently the next two miles. Towards the end of the second mile, he pulled ahead. Turning the final corner, it was time to make my move and pull a final kick. I patted him on the back as I wizzed on by, mentally focused on 22 minutes glowering on the race clock.

I completed the race a few seconds under 22 minutes- my second best time ever. Standing at the finish line, I still felt strong, as if I could have run another three miles at the same pace. Who knows what I will be able to achieve once I up my distance and speedwork. For now, I’m glad to be on the slimmer side of the 7-minute mile; though sub-7 is within my sightline.

I thirst for the next race.

Tags: running, 5k, race, Westmont, NJ, Run for Tony, 2006, Haddonfield Running Company