My 3rd 5K race
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Today I participated in Race 3 of the Run Auckland series.
The race briefing email stated that there was no parking at the actual event as they’d blocked off all the parks so that we could run freely. The organisers recommended that we parked next to a local high school and take the track that leads down to the starting area. So I thought I would take their advice. I thought I knew which track they were talking about but I went to the wrong one and ended up being about 2 kilometres away from the start. This wasn’t a problem however as it was a nice morning for a walk.
I had planned on arriving at the venue about 45 minutes early as I had to pick up my timing chip before the race started. I made the cutoff time with plenty to spare so headed off to use the facilities. One advantage of the venue was that there was heaps of public restrooms. Race 1 only had 3 portaloos which wasn’t really enough.
The course today was flat and straight. A nice run alongside the beach. Up the beach and down again was 2.5 km. We 5Kers had to do two laps and the 10Kers had to do 4.
The 10Kers started at 9AM and once again most of the participants appeared to have chosen to compete in this event.
We 5Kers were due to start at 9:20 in order to give the field time to spread. This was actually quite nice as we got to see the 10Kers running. The really fast ones did 2 laps before we even started and they were mighty impressive. One of the highlights was seeing Nina Rillstone who is representing New Zealand at the Olympics this year competing in the 10K - she finished it in 33:29. I’ve never seen a lady that skinny yet muscly before.
My best time in a 5K race was 31:01 which I set in my very first race. In my misdirected second race I set a time of 33:48 but ran an extra kilometre as I took a wrong turn. For this race I was hoping to set a PR. I kept telling myself that anything under 28 minutes would be great but secretly I was hoping for around 27 minutes. My fastest times in training have been around 28ish and I’ve always felt I could go a little faster in an actual race where I would push myself harder than I do in training.
At 9:20AM my race started and I was off. I actually had a great starting slot this time as there weren’t as many people doing the 5K event. I was in the second row which was great.
At the 800m mark we ran past a cafe full of bemused looking people. I could just see them thinking look at all these crazy buggers. Part of me longed to be in the cafe having a moccachino and a croissant.
I did my normal trick of starting really fast! Big mistake I know. My first kilometre was my fastest kilometre ever at 4:45. I was thinking uh oh, I’m going to die on the last leg. I MUST slow down! In the finest tradition of ignoring that little voice inside of you, my second kilometre was my second fastest ever at 4:59.
I hit the second lap and my legs were starting to let me know that they weren’t too keen on this running business. Why the hell are we doing this? We could be at home in bed. I slowed down quite a bit but was still on record pace during my 3rd and 4th kilometre. The last kilometer was tough but I kept thinking RUN YOU BASTARD! and so I did. I kept trying to overtake the people ahead of me as a means of motivation.
The finish line loomed and as I started to sprint I got chicked! A young lady zoomed past me and there was nothing I could do to haul her in. I tried hard but she crossed the line a good two metres in front of me. I pressed stop on my Garmin and looked at my time. 25:18!!! I not only beat my expectations I smashed em!
Unfortunately I couldn’t celebrate as I was trying hard not to throw up. I’m not quite over that cold yet. 
I then had the long walk back to my car. One thing I failed to mention was that my car was parked at the top of a cliff and there were stairs leading back up to it. I hadn’t really noticed them coming down. But I noticed them going back up. 116 of them. I really noticed them going up!
Overall a great race and a great day. According to the provisional results I’ve finshed 6th in my age group and 18th out of all the men. I’m not too fussed about that but I will treasure my PR which is actually 25:17 according to the official results! .
Contratulations on the PB Andrew and cool race report! Hitting a 5min/km pace over that distance is really good going.
I started too fast as well! It’s quite easy to get caught up in the start isn’t it? Got through the first 5 km just after your event started and heard the countdown. Needless to say the second half was quite tough and I didn’t have much left at the end.
Incidentally I did spot you coming in at the finish. Race 4 I’ll come over and say hi
The course for that one looks like a challenge with some hills.
Today I ran in red nike top, short hair and quite an un-cordinated running style. Easy to spot.
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AndrewE
reply on 11 May, 2008 8:18 pm:
Thanks Aaron. Easy to spot if you know in advance!
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Great job on the race! That had to be a blast and a PR on top of it all!
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AndrewE
reply on 11 May, 2008 8:19 pm:
It was indeed!
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Wow, a fantastic time and a PR! Nothing much to say other than great job!
Beths last blog post..Cross Training Benefits for the Runner
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AndrewE
reply on 11 May, 2008 8:19 pm:
Thanks Beth.
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Great result Andrew…You did better in your 5 km race then I did in my 4 km race today. Excellent job
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AndrewE
reply on 11 May, 2008 8:20 pm:
Heh! My course was nice and flat!
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Andrew…my man! Sorry, I am in the midst of watching American Gangster, and every other line seems to be “my man” this or “my man” that…anyway… You had a great, great race! I guess I’ve got a new target–yep it’s on your back now.
Seriously, good work with the running, and with the weight loss, keep it up!
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AndrewE
reply on 11 May, 2008 8:21 pm:
Thanks my man!
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Congratulations on an awesome race and if the weather up there was like down here it would have been awesome
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AndrewE
reply on 11 May, 2008 8:21 pm:
Thanks Hippygal.
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Well done, you! Congrats on the personal best.
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AndrewE
reply on 11 May, 2008 8:22 pm:
Thanks Marshmallow.
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Superb effort Andrew, setting a new PB is an awesome feeling isn’t it! You are now one up on me, I don’t even have a 5km PB (never run a 5km race) - I’ll have to get myself one someday soon.
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AndrewE
reply on 12 May, 2008 3:22 pm:
I’m looking forward to getting a few times in longer races. 2 more months to my first 10K!
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What a HUGE result! You must be over the moon (after you stopped wanting to vomit of course…). WD!
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Wow, you rockstar you! Congratulations on that personal record!
B.t.w. what happened to your Entrecard widget?
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AndrewE
reply on 12 May, 2008 9:55 am:
Whoops…it disappeared in my redesign. I’ll stick it back tonight.
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CONGRATS!!!!!
conquering this feeling:
Part of me longed to be in the cafe having a moccachino and a croissant.
is, in my eyes, almost better than the time!
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AndrewE
reply on 12 May, 2008 3:22 pm:
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You rock! Congrats on the 5k! That’s awesome!
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Leave it to you to find the stairs. haha!
Congrats on the personal best — High five!
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AndrewE
reply on 12 May, 2008 3:28 pm:
It is my secret superhero power.
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Great Job! That is a fantastic time! You make me want to run today, but I must rest. Plus, it’s going to rain… oh well!
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Huh. I thought for a minute you typed “25:18″.
Oh wait, you DID! Way to go, Andrew!
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Congrats on the PR. You really did blow the top off your old PR — a 6 minute reduction on a 5K is a huge difference. You must not have read the fine print on the parking notice. I’m told that it warned that anyone who set a PR would be rewarded with extra steps to climb.
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AndrewE
reply on 12 May, 2008 3:30 pm:
I must find some runs without steps!
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WONDERFUL!!!! And you even made it up the 116 steps (obviously since you posted). I’m so proud of you!!
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Andrew, congrats on the PB! I have a newfound respect for anyone who competes in a 5K after my own experience this weekend. Good luck with your next race!
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Andrew, great race and great timing! 25 mins whoa!
All that has gone before has paid off. Did you find keeping up a faster pace easier with people around you? I know running on your own can be hard to keep up a pace.
Great work, looking forward to the results of race 4.
Bill
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AndrewE
reply on 12 May, 2008 3:26 pm:
It’s definitely easier to run faster when there are people around you. I picked a girl to follow and my aim was to overtake her at the end. Having a target really helped me keep the motivation up. Unfortunately her sprint was quicker than mine!
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Thanks for the congratulations all. It’s great to get so much support from you all. You guys ROCK!
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Way to go Andrew! It sound as though it was a lovely race too.
I had my very first race on the weekend.
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AndrewE
reply on 13 May, 2008 5:45 am:
And it sounds like you rocked at it too! Well done!
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WOW Andrew! What a GREAT time!
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AndrewE
reply on 13 May, 2008 5:47 am:
Thanks Chief! I surprised myself!
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Holy Hannah! You are amazing. You bested your best time by nearly 6 minutes ! Wow. You are my new hero. Thanks for the inspiration.
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AndrewE
reply on 13 May, 2008 10:26 am:
AndrewEs last blog post..Weigh in
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Congrats! on the PR Andrew. And thanks for stopping by my blog.
gaj
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Way to go and here’s to future PRs!
Cynthias last blog post..Better weigh-in than expected!
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Awesome run Andrew! and an excellent PR! I bet you also set a PR on those steps back up to your car huh?
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Well done!
There you go, count the stairs as you go up… there’s always stairs,eh!
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