Riverfest '08 5K Report

I meet my sub 25 min 5k goal with a 24:32 finish time for my first race. Not too shabby for less than two weeks of running and 15 total base miles. I tried to out sprint a guy at the end, but kicked too soon. I let out an angry yell when I realized I went too soon and he looked over his shoulder as I was about to pass and kicked it up. He beat me by 3 seconds as I let off the gas, he was in the age group under me and I did manage to close about a 15 yard gap on him in the last 80 yards. I finished up at 40th overall and 5th in my age group.

I ran with my heart rate monitor and kept my heart rate average at 193. This means my body was not going all out in that I can hold that for well over an hour in a mountain bike race. I was willing to go with a pace that I was confidant I could hold to make sure I did not blow up. The course was more hilly than I anticipated and was not "flat and fast" as billed. I do think with another month or two of regular running I could hit around a 22 min 5K. I could probably run a 22 min 5k on a track in my current shape. I am not sure if I want to continue running as part of my training and I don't know if I'll run another 5k anytime soon. However, it is WAY less difficult to run a 5k than race Sport class mountain bike races :)

5k Stats:

24:32

193 HR average

209 was the max HR I saw (my monitor does not record Max)

$30 dollar T-shirt (went to a good cause)