Team Run 4 the Kids 5k Recap

It’s been awhile since I’ve written a blog post, but I have been running! I finished up a month long yoga challenge and I am doing a 35 day push-up challenge also! I have run two races this month–the Shark Run 4 miler with my husband and daughter in Orange Beach July 4 and the Team Run 4 the Kids 5k yesterday! We ran the Shark Run for fun and it was super hot. I am so proud of my hubby and daughter finishing their longest race ever! 

I have run the Team Run 4 the Kids 5k every summer for three years! This race is in Hattiesburg and offers a 5k or 10k race. It benefits the children who are patients at St. Jude Children’s Hospital and it is one of my favorite races. It is such a wonderful atmosphere and it feels so good to run for a cause I am so passionate about. My mom went with me last year and wanted to go with me again this year. Plus our race shirts were red which is her favorite color! Mom and I picking up our shirts and bib numbers!

I did train specifically for this race. I’ve been doing speedwork and fartleks since the end of May. I have managed to win second place the last two years in my age group and I was secretly hoping to win first place this year. I am the queen of second place awards in 5k’s. 5k’s are the only distance I can win an AG award so I have been working really hard all summer on my speed. Since it is so hot and humid, it’s been really tough, but I managed two fartlek runs in the 27 minute range and one in 28. I was hoping to finish this race in 27 minutes. That’s me striking a pose at the starting line! Can you see the humidity??  I was very thankful for a 7 AM start time. We sang the National Anthem, prayed and we were off! 

I was in the very front of the pack during the first mile and I felt great. The 5k and 10k runners started at the same time and I had one couple running together right in front of me, a woman beside me and a mother/daughter pair moved right in front of me too. We were all trying to run the same pace. For a moment, I imagined what it must feel to run with a group of people on a race track. We were so close together! I finally had to speed up and move in front of both couples. The woman kept up with me and we ran side by side until the 5k turn around. I was thankful she kept going and I didn’t have to race her. Waving at mile 2!! I finished my first mile at 8:56 and mile 2 at 8:47! I was so happy with my pace and felt really strong. I also realized I was the only woman in the front for the 5k race! I thought I might actually finish first overall female!! But shortly after this picture was taken, a woman passed me and I mean she flew by me! I knew I had a mile left and sweat was pouring down my face. I didn’t bother to wipe it away. My mind said clearly “run YOUR race.” I knew it would be best to not try and catch up to the woman that passed me. I also did not look at my watch during that last mile. By 2.5 miles, I started having trouble breathing because of the humidity, but I never slowed down. Me at the finish! Breathing like a freight train coming through!! 

I crossed the finish line and the clock said 27:??  I was SO happy!! I knew I placed first in my age group for sure. My watch time was 27:26 and official time was 27:25!! I achieved my goal time!! I was so excited!!! I also went to talk to the woman who passed me. Her name was Sandee and she told me she kept waiting for me to catch up to her. She asked me my age and told me she was 44. Her daughter had finished right behind me too! Me and Sandee! She was super nice and we talked for awhile after the race. My Mom walked the 5k and finished 6th out of all the walkers! We did it! 

Age group awards were announced and I did win first place in 30-39 AG!! Woo hoo!! 

First place in my AG, second place overall female, and I had a course record!! I was beyond excited and so thankful. God gets all the glory! I prayed that I would “run and not grow weary” and I did!! Isaiah 40:31!! My splits ended up being 8:56, 8:47, and 8:45!! One of my strongest 5k races in over 4 years of running and in the heat of summer! 

I am still over the moon happy. It almost feels like I finished a marathon lol. It’s just so awesome when you set goals for yourself, put in the work, and CRUSH those goals. It’s an amazing feeling! 

How about you?? How is your running going in the summer months? Achieved any goals lately?? I am linking up with Tricia and Holly for the Weekly Wrap!