OK, so it goes better if you actually train for a race

The race was fun. We went at a comfortable pace and it was a really nice day. I felt that I was ready to run that distance without difficulty, if not very fast, so I was not anxious about the race and things went well. It was also very pleasant that the course did not have any challenging hills to run up.

I love flat running routes.

The 5k on Sunday was mostly flat, with some downhill, and hardly any uphill incline to speak of. It was wonderful, I loved it. None of the 5ks I have done were that flat (and i've done 5, in the last 4 years apparently). As a result I think I got my best time yet. But to be completely honest, I prepared more for this one compared to the others, and I couldn't find my time for two of them. This is encouraging because I know I can do much better than what I did on Sunday! I also really liked this race because it was so much more diverse and less competitive than ones i've done before. I didn't think that I would continue (after 5ks) this incremental race experiment that Missy conjured up. But the Germantown 5 Miler is a very reasonable price and the course map seems like it will be flat.

My inhaler was running low and I was nervous about that. But it ended up not causing any problems at all. I ran at a reasonably slow pace and walked for about 4 minutes off and on. The weather couldn't have been better.

I'm excited to continue training now. We went on a nice power walk on Tuesday, and yesterday I ran near the house without planning a route. In retrospect I will plan my route next time, too many steep hills! On Friday I am going biking with a friend on Beach Drive, can I pretend that this counts as training as well?

Lacking motivation

I heard all about the race. Wish I could have been there. Unfortunately I don't know how well I would have done. I asked my husband to look around for races and he said there weren't any which I didn't actually believe. So I asked a friend to look for me and it turned out there really aren't any 5K's. She found one two hours away that you have to pay 50$ to enter. Sadly I took a pass on that. It's really killing my motivation. I know I should be able to get up and run for my own satisfaction or health or something but to be honest a lot has been happening over here. I'm still in school, working many extra hours, and am pretty much entirely responsible for the baby. Most days I feel like I'm going on empty, so when time comes to jog. . . . well sleep seems a lot more appealing. Not exactly sure how to turn it all around at the moment. The weather is getting nice though so maybe that will help.

Our May Race - The Germantown 5 miler

On May 19 we are going to try for a small local race. The Germantown 5 miler. I am thinking about having a BBQ thereafter. This will be our first incrimental step up in distance and after doing 2x 5k's I think it will be worth a shot. Registration is now open.
In other news I am ready to start running again and I know David is doing some heavy duty cross training, a la Krav Maga.

Get ready

Get set

Go

Our first 5k is done. It went really well. No injures and good times for all. Big crowed and lots of cheering and great weather 66 degrees and sunny and breezy. 

I was quite nervous about this one. My first post babies 5k and my first group run for this little adventure of marathon or bust. 

I am only on week 4 of 9 for my 5k training program so I was worried about that too. My weekly runs are 1.8 miles in about half an hour and they are very comfortable so I was guardedly hopeful.

Success.!

I ran the whole way with Licia and for a bit with Pammy too. I felt good at the end and am only a bit stiff today although last night I got a killer migraine and poor David had to feed, bath and put the kids to bed on his own after an equally hard race. 

I think I was dehydrated but everything is fine now.

The race started on a huge downhill and really never had a significant uphill. We ran around the inner harbor and the mood was so festive that I feel very much like doing that shamrock 5k again next year.