B.A.A. 5k Race Recap

Pre-Race - After spending Saturday hitting up the expo, having dinner with Spike's parents, getting to bed much later than expected and concerns over my ITB and Lankle, I wasn't sure how race day would play out. Race morning we got up around 6am, grabbed the T into the city and met up with LPT of Failed Muffins, Katie A. of One Run at a Time and Christy of 25 before 25 who would be spectating with Spike and Ari (Katie A's husband) while we ladies of the red hair ran the 5k.

LPT, Christy & I Pre-Race

It was cold, overcast and threatening to rain at any moment; the kind of weather only a masochist northerner like Spike could appreciate. (In fact he begged Mother Nature the whole of the weekend to trade race day forecasts with me. To no avail unfortunately.) Def not ideal race conditions for this Florida girl.

As each member of our little gathering arrived the squeals of delight and requests for photo ops grew. Spike was such a trooper with the holding of bags (including my pink sling bag) and taking of pics. (Best spectator boyfriend EVER!) It was decided that Katie A., recovering from the flu, would take it easy and pace LPT while I would attempt to race for my coveted PR. Just before we headed into the mass of runners Lindsay of Chasing the Kenyans stopped by and we all exchanged a quick hello before it was GO time...

Redheads Unite!

Start Corral - After a quick hug for good luck to the girls I made my way as close to the front as I could manage, quickly making friends with another runner who comiserated with me over the exceedingly cold temps and the ever present threat of rain as the starting announcements dragged on and on... We are freezing and don't care who the daughter of the race director is, can you please start this race already?!?!?

The Race - I didn't look at Hermes once as I focused on just keeping up the pace and powering through the inclines. My Lankle was killing me the first mile or so but by then the pain of running so hard basically drowned it out. About half way through, it started to rain and I wanted nothing more than to just finish this race. Shortly there after we turned on to Boylston St and I glimpsed the Finish Line in the distance and kicked it up only to realize we still had a mile to go. SYKE!!! As we turned off Boylston I heard Spike cheer me on as I ran past and I remember thinking to myself, "I can't keep this up. I just want to quit."

Action shot!

The moment passed quickly enough when a small boy passed me and I realized there was no way in heck I was going to give up on a friggin 5k! (Gotta love temporary self doubt!) As we made the turn back on to Boylston for the actual Finish stretch I was wholly spent and just running on fumes when suddenly I spot Coach EK and Speedy Jess screaming for me! It was exactly what I needed to dig deep and find that I had just enough left to bring it in for a little over a minute PR!

Mile 1: 6:47 P

Mile 2: 7:03 P

Mile 3: 7:11 P

.1 (or .2 according to Hermes w/ my horrible tangent running) 6:23 P

Garmin Time: 22:19 / 3.2 M for 6:59 P

Final Chip Time: 22:19 / 3.1 M for 7:11 P

431/4329 Overall

88/2483 Woman Finishers

17/424 Divison Place

5k PR!!!

Post Race - I was elated beyond belief when I saw the clock and hit "Stop" on Hermes. I was also ready to puke my guts out from the effort. (Thankfully I didn't. Instead I hacked my lungs out for a good hour or two after. They were on fire!) As I headed straight for Spike and my post race kiss, all things were lost on me; I honestly didn't even so much as notice I had crossed the infamous Boston Marathon Finish line. FAIL. After I caught my breath I headed into the Finishers area to collect my medal and then out to join the gang while we waited for LPT & Katie A. to finish. Within a minute of joining the gang I see the girls and LPT is beaming with excitement over her very own PR of over a minute too! Congrats LPT and way to pace her through Katie A.!!! Great job ladies!!! Redheads totally rocked the B.A.A. 5k!!! :)

Post Race Thoughts - The course is a quick 3.1 M tour around downtown Boston that loops Boston Common, the Public Gardens, down scenic Commonwealth Ave and rounds out up the infamous turn onto Boylston street the marathoners take before crossing the Finish Line. It was fast, certainly not flat and kicked my @ss! Between the inclines and the effort, I got a lesson in how hard it hurts to run fast and I can't WAIT to run it again next year!!! The race swag consisted of a tech tee in B.M. Day-glow yellow and a mini Boston Marathon medal that is now one of my favorite blings. I highly recommend tackling the B.A.A. 5k and getting your own mini piece of Boston until you qualify for the 26.2!!! (Be ready to sign up the day they open registration cuz it fills up fast!)

Swag

(Back of Both)

Next up: Blog Brunch & B.R.A. Pasta Dinner Recap...