post-race analysis
I did okay. The one thing for certain was that it was (and still is) quite cold. Having to warm up muscles in 35° weather is never fun. If the race had been around lunchtime the situation would have improved a bit, but… Morning races have their own set of virtues–getting a jump on the rest of the day, better traffic situation, among other things.
I didn’t set a PR, but I ran better than my last 5K. 21:40. The good news is that I didn’t crash and burn during any of the legs of the race–kept a steady pace. It’s a good baseline, then, since I didn’t have an overly “good” or “bad” race, but ran very near capacity the whole time. The bad news is that I seem to be stuck in a rut of sorts in terms of my training. I need to vary my course a bit and do some speed drills, I think. Not to mention get my watch fixed. Heh.
One of the qualities of a race that I appreciate is that they’re like a test that actually benefits you. In other words, if you take an academic test, you’ll have to draw on the reserve of knowledge accumulated during class, but you won’t learn anything new. They’re designed purely to see what you know, not to increase your knowledge. In a road race, on the other hand, not only do you get a sense of where you stand in terms of athletic fitness (the “test”), it also serves as a great exercise period (the “class”). So you get the evaluation and the workout. Two-for-one.
Driving back to Chapel Hill today to participate in my dad’s birthday festivities and do the whole buying-a-Christmas-tree thing with the family. Tomorrow will also be the first time I’ll have been to my home church in several months. I’m looking forward to it. And sleeping :)
Have fun! =)
Hope you have/had a safe trip back to Chapel Hill… And I do pray that you don’t run into any patches of ice as I did going across the mountains from Cherokee to Knoxville! The lack of sudden changes in elevation should help, but be cautious all the same!
Oh, and congrats on the run!
Thanks :) I did. It rained all the way back here, but the car performed just fine. And thanks for the congrats on the run, too :) See you soon.
/es/\\e
I didn’t know you were going to run another race? Good for you! I went out for sushi the other night and thought I saw Aaron, which brought to mind all the physical stuff you guys do…
Good to see you yesterday! A bit bummed that we didn’t get to hang out… but life goes on. :) Did you enjoy the church service? and the birthday dinner? and do you think your a wine connoisseur now? I can reminder a younger you swearing not to try the stuff… :) Glad you’ve come over to our side…
So we’ll see you in two weeks?
Good to see you too :) I’m bummed too, but I’ll be back in two weeks, and then the following weekend. We’ll get together soon.
I did enjoy the church service. Having been away from Grace for a few months and attending Calvary Baptist here in W-S, there are some interesting similarities as well as differences between the two churches… But that’s an observation for another time.
I’ve got a long way to go before I become anything close to a connoisseur :) I think I can match a dish and a wine fairly well, but that’s about it. And I’m glad I’ve come around too on the whole issue :)
Have a great Tuesday!
Uh huh. I well remember your overweening affinity for naps. I’m rather envious, actually.
Ok, i’ll stop vandalizing your blog (in reverse order) and get some sleep now. G’nite.