Timberwolf 5K

Time:  29:26
Distance:  3.2 miles
Location:  Northwood High School, Irvine, CA

On Saturday, February 15th, I ran the Timberwolf 5K in Irvine and accomplished my first major running goal of 2014.  I pretty much crammed my training in over the course of a month, after having gone almost completely sedentary the previous 6 months.  Accomplishing this goal taught me that I need not hem and haw, or be daunted by a race, or use work or even weather as an excuse.  At the unlikeliest of times (the middle of winter), and in a short amount of time, I was able to get myself ready enough to run a decent race.  Granted, more time to train would have been nice, but this is only a first step.  I'm planning on this being the first of many races to come.

As far as my training went, I ran every run I planned for myself, no matter the weather (which wasn't all that bad considering the time of year).  So I felt physically ready (though I knew it wouldn't be a fast race comparable to how I was running in high school).  However, it's always the unforeseen factors that are worrying.  Nathan had been fighting a cold the past week and lo and behold I came down with it the day before the race.  I kept it at bay as best I could with vitamins and rest, but when Saturday morning came I wasn't feeling 100%.  Aside from this little setback, everything about the race was great.

We stayed Friday night at my parents' in Rancho Cucamonga, and early Saturday morning Deborah, Nathan, and I set out early for Irvine.  We arrived around 7:15am, I checked in, got my bib, and we walked around the campus.  Finally around 7:50am I headed over to the starting line.  It was a big turnout for a local race.  There were about 1800 people ready to run!  It was the biggest 5K I've been in yet.  I could tell by those around me that there were people of all skill levels, so this set me at ease a little.  The starting gun went off and everyone slowly began jogging.  I was pretty far back initially, so the first quarter mile I was simply weaving around little kids and those choosing to walk.  The course was a hilly one.  There was an initial steep hill followed by a long, gradual downhill.  When I hit the 1-mile mark I was at around 9:30, which was actually faster than I had been training at.  But then another hill followed, then a short downhill, then a long, grueling uphill.  This last hill was the toughest.  By the 2-mile mark I was at around 17:30, which means my second mile was a pretty quick one.  But the never-ending hill was getting to me, and at this point my sickness started to become apparent.  I felt congested and overall a little queasy.  But I pushed on.  I never once stopped.  I finally reached the summit of this final hill and the rest of the race was all downhill.  I wanted to really just let myself go for the last half mile or so.  But even cruising downhill I wasn't able to get any speed going.  I hadn't really been training for speed, though, so that's probably why.  I finally rounded the bend where I could see the crowds and the finish line.  At the 3-mile marker it read 28:20 and I knew I'd be under 30:00, which was kind of a secondary goal of mine.  I crossed the finish at 29:26, a terrible time objectively, but a great time considering my circumstances.  It was also the best time of my three official 5K races I've been a part of.

I was wiped out when it was over.  But I knew I gave it my all and I felt great about that.  Having Deborah and Nathan there cheering for me was beyond awesome, too.  It was a great experience and I'm so glad I saw it through and accomplished this goal.  I'm hoping it will be a preview of a renewed commitment to running.  I can't wait to see what my next goal will be!