We made it!! Matt and I successfully completed the Willistown Conservation Trust “Run-A-Muck” 5K race yesterday afternoon. The race ended up being longer than a 5k and it was SUPER hilly, but we finished!
My original goal was to beat 32 minutes (i.e. run 10 minute miles) so when I came over the last hill and saw the finish line clock at 35 minutes I was a little disappointed. That is, until Matt told me that his and other runners’ GPS running apps were saying that the race was more like 3.65 miles long. That means I DID meet my pace goal, woohoo!
In addition to meeting my goal I was also the 8th female and 34th overall to cross the finish line which was pretty cool and unexpected. Granted, there were only about 105 runners AND one of the females ahead of me was an 11-year-old girl, but eh… oh well! 🙂 (By the way, I learned that little kids can be ridiculous runners! I guess they just never get tired? Crazy!)
The course was tough… it took us through beautiful horse fields, around several ponds, up what seemed like a near-vertical climb in the woods (I walked it), and along a dirt road. I started out WAY too fast (7:30-8:00 mile, eek!) and then I paid for it on every single steep uphill climb after that, but it was a good learning experience and I think this will just make future races that much easier.
Overall, the race was hard but the feeling of accomplishment after crossing the finish line made it totally worth it. I’m already looking for another local 5K to enter in October… looking forward to it! 🙂
The Little GSP 
Great job! And children runners are like puppies, there is an unending well of energy there that is ridiculous.
They are crazy! I didn’t mention in the post, but an 8-year-old boy actually beat me AND Matt! Insane. At least other 5Ks usually have age brackets that will prevent us from having to compete with the 12 and under crowd! 🙂
Congrats!! I think you did amazing, top 1/3 runner… and it was your first official race, right? Awesome job!
Thanks Pami! Yes, it was my first official race since freshman year of high school… so first adult race. 🙂 It was a good learning experience and I am definitely happy that I did it.
Congrats!! I keep saying I want to do one of these fun 5k runs but I don’t have anyone to do them with me and I’m pretty sure running with a dog just isn’t allowed.
Yeah, running with a dog (especially an super energetic GSP!) can be a definite competitive advantage if (like Bailey) they would pull you up the hills and try to sprint the whole race. Not having someone to run with isn’t too bad though… Matt was running in the same 5K as me but we didn’t run together (he’s faster) so I was still basically running alone. As long as you have a friend at the finish that’s all that matters. 🙂
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