NJEA Boardwak 5K in Review
There was no proof to claim I might run a sub-22 minute 5K. In fact, everything proved to the contrary.
Yet, there is a strong tradition with the NJEA Boardwalk 5K. Jon and I managed to shatter our own personal records the past three times we ran this race. Once is pure chance. Twice acoincidence . Three times you begin to wonder. It seems only right that a fourth time should naturally follow. So, after racing a 22:29 last year, the sub-22 goal only seemed natural.
If there was a race to PR, this would be it. The boardwalk is a flat, fast course - straight as a pin. As an out and back, you could view the turnaround from the start. The lack of vertical markers on thebeach side horizon gave the course the appearance as being much shorter than it really was. In other words, you run your heart out because there doesn't appear to be much distance between start and finish.
Twenty two minutes five kilometer race. Sub seven minute pace. Eleven minutes at the turn around. I can't remember the last time I ran a sub-seven. It came as a shock that I clocked 6:50 at the first mile. Or that I crossed the half at 10:45. That was a goal worth achieving.
Something gave out after the turnaround. It wasn't my mental determination. Will was strong. Breathing in control. Arms bent to achieve running efficiency. It was all in my legs; they felt like rubber bands. I willed them to carry me forward, but it was like trekking through mud. This time the illusionary horizon worked against me, as it appeared as if I wasn't even moving.
Every race can't be a "winner" if your goal is to PR. I clocked in at 22:55, maintaining my recent strand of running 22-minute 5K's. I can't be disappointed by my finish time knowing that by mid-race I was on track. This means I'll need to train harder for next year.
NJEA 2007 Boardwalk 5K, just you wait.
Yet, there is a strong tradition with the NJEA Boardwalk 5K. Jon and I managed to shatter our own personal records the past three times we ran this race. Once is pure chance. Twice acoincidence . Three times you begin to wonder. It seems only right that a fourth time should naturally follow. So, after racing a 22:29 last year, the sub-22 goal only seemed natural.
If there was a race to PR, this would be it. The boardwalk is a flat, fast course - straight as a pin. As an out and back, you could view the turnaround from the start. The lack of vertical markers on thebeach side horizon gave the course the appearance as being much shorter than it really was. In other words, you run your heart out because there doesn't appear to be much distance between start and finish.Twenty two minutes five kilometer race. Sub seven minute pace. Eleven minutes at the turn around. I can't remember the last time I ran a sub-seven. It came as a shock that I clocked 6:50 at the first mile. Or that I crossed the half at 10:45. That was a goal worth achieving.
Something gave out after the turnaround. It wasn't my mental determination. Will was strong. Breathing in control. Arms bent to achieve running efficiency. It was all in my legs; they felt like rubber bands. I willed them to carry me forward, but it was like trekking through mud. This time the illusionary horizon worked against me, as it appeared as if I wasn't even moving.
Every race can't be a "winner" if your goal is to PR. I clocked in at 22:55, maintaining my recent strand of running 22-minute 5K's. I can't be disappointed by my finish time knowing that by mid-race I was on track. This means I'll need to train harder for next year.
NJEA 2007 Boardwalk 5K, just you wait.
Tags:
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home