Today I ran in what will probably be my last 5K of the season. I don't know that for sure yet since there are two more that I want to do, but I don't think I'll have it in my budget to do anymore. If so this was the best race I've done this year.
I arrived two hours early so that I had time to register. After I registered I met with my classmate and he asked a few questions before we went to the survivors tent to sign the survivors banner. There was a group photo for survivors and we all received medals on stage. I don't like much attention but my classmate wanted to interview me for school so we set up and did the interview real quick, then add two names to my back so I could race in their honor. By that time it was time to get to the starting line to begin the race.
I weaved my way through the crowd trying to find my classmate who had went ahead of me to get some footage, but didn't see him as the race began. I finally found him just past the starting line so I grabbed my headphones from him and took off through the streets of Knoxville.
My last race I went a little slower so I could take a lot of photos and because it was so many people out that it was hard to go but so fast. This time since the turn out was less than half the previous 5K I decided I would go faster. I wanted to beat my previous best time of 48:48. I'm not a runner, I prefer to go at a run walk pace that I can maintain over the entire three miles.
Today as I was in the front pack I watched as many of the runners and joggers passed me I kept at an even pace. I turned my music up very loud and bounced along to the beat thumping in my ears. I know I had to look funny as I danced along to the music but the beat gave me a rhythm with which to match my steps. It felt good to go at a good pace.
A mile in I began to pass joggers who couldn't maintain the speed over the full distance. I could feel my legs start to burn as I kept going and passed the first water spot which I gulped down greedily. Mile two I was sweating and breathing heavier. I was still maintaining my same pace which wasn't easy since my feet were starting to hurt a bit. I gulped down water at the second water spot and put my head down to get through the last mile.
As the last mile came into view and I started to head down hill back into World's Fair Park, I could feel my adrenaline start to flow. I looked up at the clock and realized that I was getting close to my previous best time and that if I had any chance to beat it, I was going to have to pick up the pace. With the last bit of energy I could muster I sprinted over the finish line and beat my previous best time by a full 10 seconds.
This was a good race day for a great cause. I was happy to help my classmate get a good story and even happier that I got to raise money for a good cause. I am always glad when I can give back to the community that helped me so much. This is the reason I love 5Ks so much.
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