On Sunday, I ran a 5k. After a string of half-marathons, running a 5k was delightful. I only needed one bathroom trip, I didn’t need to remember water or gels. I wore my clunky old watch so didn’t need any technology. It was so delightfully simple.(Let’s not dwell on how I forgot my sunglasses and had to wear the Dude’s scratched up old pair).
The race was held locally, so it was a very relaxed start. The Husband was running the 10k and I was going to push the Dude for the 5k. What made it more fun was that a load of our friends were running the 5k, three of them on their very first 5k. So for once, we knew loads of people at the start line. It was cold-ish but sunny, perfect running weather. We took a lot of photos.
TeamRamsden at the start-line
The crew!
David, Husband, Me, Dude, Amanda and Matt.
Strollers (all three of us) were told to line up at the back, so we did, more or less. The Husband edged forward, and we were off. The course ran along the Bay Trail – it was very flat and the views are always pretty. It was crowded at the start and pushing a very long stroller meant I had to weave my way through people and slow down drastically at times to avoid chopping people’s ankles up. This was a little frustrating but only lasted for the first quarter of a mile, so not too bad. Then the crowd thinned out and I had space to run. I felt great throughout this race. I was working hard but picking people off one by one, which rarely happens to me – this, combined with the fact that I was doing so whilst pushing a stroller, made me feel as badass as my running top :)
Thank you to David’s wife Sarah for this shot! I LOVE IT!
I saw the Husband run by on the out-and-back and then I was heading back to the start/finish line. I got the chance to wave and shout for all my friends, which was great and then I was at the finish line. As I approached the clock, it was in the 26.50s, ticking upwards so I pushed as hard as I could and got there at 26.59 ;) When I stopped my watch it said 26.41. Now we didn’t wear chips for this race, so I am comfortable taking my watch time as my ‘chip time’ as it took me a good 18 seconds to get through the start-line at the beginning. So 3.1 miles in 26.41 at an 8.36 pace. I am over the moon with this time – I was hoping for a 9.00 pace for this stroller run! Really happy.
Job done!
There was then a lovely period watching my friends cross the finish line. I was SO proud of them all, especially Amanda who did Couch-to-5k and ran her first ever 5k. She was a total rock-star!! The Husband ran a great 10k, finishing in 52 mins. I was really proud of him too!
10k done!
Very proud of these new
5k-ers!
A few minutes after the Husband crossed the line, it was time for the free kids’ race. The Dude was beside himself with excitement! They ran 100 yards or so to a cone and then back again. My little distance runner paced himself well, ran the whole way and grinned like a loon at the end. He got a ribbon for his efforts!
Look at the form!!! I bred this child!
In terms of the event, it was a really nice, local race. It was tiny – maybe 200 participants at the most – and very informal but for $25 (for 5k and 10k) it was a bargain! It was well-organised, the course was well-marshalled, they did a great job. We all got really nice cotton sweatshirts and an excellent goodie bag. As ever, I would always choose a medal over a sweatshirt (and Amanda was really disappointed not to get a medal for her first 5k) but at least these ones look good!
Loot!
All in all, a great morning’s work and a great end to the Running Lull. Today (Monday) marks the start of ’52 or bust’…my Berkeley 10k training plan which I’m really excited about! The Running Mojo is burning again!
