O'Hare 5k on the runway 2014

October 5, 2014

18th 5k - O"Hare 5k on the runway

with: Karen

Chicago, IL

Time: 28:38!!!!!!!!! Pace: 9:14!!!!!!!!!!!!! PR!!!!!!!!

 Well, it's been quite a  running year for me! First my plantar fascists finally heals about 98% after extensive treatments and money and time invested in said treatment....and all during half marathon training. And then I completed the half marathon in July. I ran a 10k straight through last weekend and now this! A sub freakin' 30 5k!!!!! Holy crap. It doesn't get better. Add this to the new home and graduating college I'm having the time of my life right now. I have running to thank for this. It has given me many ups and downs but if I keep my eye on the prize and the song lyrics "focus on your abilities" in my head I know I can do anything I put my mind to. It's true. Long range goals used to seem so daunting to me. If I take things in small doable chunks anything is possible.

 Last summer I wasn't running a whole lot because of my foot so I didn't really know what my summer running "personality" was like. I struggled badly with a small cross country 5k the day after running 10 miles for half marathon training. I hit a wall every quarter mile. I thought I was done. I didn't know what was wrong with me. The next 5k was the backlight run which was not a good running environment but I was happy to have run the whole thing because I thought I was never going to be able to run 3 miles straight again (I did the half as a run/walk). I felt better after I ran that 10k last weekend straight through! This was the first real 5k since the Ravenswood run in April.

I now realize what was going on at that cross country. I went into it with a bad attitude (see entry further down) and I was exhausted from the half training. I also realized that I run slower in the summer because of heat and humidity. Now that I know I behave differently in the summer and winter I am going to take each race or run as it is. Running is like life - some good days and some bad. I can't beat myself up when I have a bad day. I will carry one and cherish the victories such as the sweet victory of today!

I was so worried that I was going to "pull a Veronica" and wake up late I barely got any sleep. Last year I had a near sub 30 (30:01) 5k after no sleep so I don't sweat it now when I can sleep before a race. I kept telling my self it wasn't going to be a big deal and this was going to be a day for a PR.

I got to Karens with a plenty of time to spare. This worked out well since we had no idea how to get to parking lot G at O'Hare airport where the race was to begin. We drove around the airport a few times and got trapped in the big regular parking lot. Big fun. Turns out, lot G is the most remote of all the lots and is off some Bessie Coleman drive neither of us had ever heard of.

I was feeling a little icky inside - nausea icky - ish. I ignored it because this was a PR day for crying out loud.

I took off like a bat outta hell. My GPS had me at under a 9 minute mile for a a few blocks. I slowly began to creep up on my pace but I never once went anywhere near 10. Holy crap, I was really doing this! I decided to go for it and work my ass off to make this PR because this was the day and I didn't want to have to try again!

I grabbed water at the first station and kept running trying to drink at the same time. I had it all over me. Oh well. At the second water station I could barely even swallow the water. I had to spit out one mouthful.It's tough running so fast and drink water simultaneously.

The course was on a remote runway at O'Hare. It was pretty cool to run where regular people aren't allowed to even walk. They had a giant plane parked along the way and many people were stopping to take photos. If it wasn't so far from the start line I would have gone back to get photos. Next time!

I didn't hit one wall. I didn't have one ounce of doubt. I proactively cheered myself on in my head and grunted out loud to keep myself going. When I put my bib number in the computer and got the print out with my time I jumped up and down and screamed.  I felt amazing.