Ho hum...another PR! After the last 5K I ran, I was feeling really confident. I set an aggressive goal for this race for an even 24:00, :43 faster than 10 days ago. The course is pretty much flat. The weather, rain, downpour right before the start and then let up as the race progressed. I felt pretty good throughout the race, though I was pushing my limits. I ate a bowl of cherries for breakfast and had a package of Clif Shot Blocks shortly before the race.
One thing that needs to be improved on this race...no chip timing?!? With over 400 people running this race today, I was baffled by the absence of the chip timers. Also, I've noticed that only a couple of races that I have run this year has a timing mat at both the start and the finish. In our technologically advanced society, you'd think that we'd be able to see this at all races. I time myself, but the fact remains that people want accurate times. I didn't cross the start line until 5 seconds after the gun and that is when I start my watch, but I'm sure other people don't have that luxury and are relying on race timing.
The Stats:
Goal / Actual / +/-
Mile 1: 7:50/7:49/ -:01
Mile 2: 7:45/7:46/ +:01
Mile 3: 7:40/7:40/ :00
Last .1: :45/ :43
Mileage: 3.11
Time/Pace: 24:00/7:43
Avg Heart Rate: 167
Temp: 67
Weather: Rain, Downpours at Times
2 months ago
Nice work, FGR! Give it another month or so, and you'll be passing by me in a race! Yes, the chip timing can be frustrating. From what I've heard, it is a rather hefty expense to add to a race. I think many race directors, especially for races that are run for various charities, don't want to spend the extra money. Most smaller, local level races only use one mat for chip timing --- again, for financial reasons and because the race is smaller than, say, the Turkey Trot. As annoying as it may have been for you to wait a few seconds to get past the starting line of this 5K, it's nothing compared to running in the Trot, or in a half-marathon/marathon, for example. When I ran the Buffalo Half, it took me (literally) almost two minutes to get past the start. But of course the big races (i.e., thousands of runners) will use chips and both mats. Anyway, good job again!
ReplyDeletedropping 43 seconds is HUGE. grats on the PR!
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