Real David H.

For the first time in nearly 3 years, I went to a 5K with a PR goal in mind. I knew that my chances of hitting that mark were not the best, but I at least had the confidence to go for it. 

I missed out on a PR, though, but I came away pleased with my time of 22:44. I finished more than a minute faster than last year and I came away knowing what I need to do to go for a PR again soon.

Here are a few takeaways from today’s Stars and Stripes 5K in Howland, Ohio:

• I can get really, really close to a PR pace for a mile. I can hold that pace for 2 miles. I need more and better speed training to pick up the pace slightly and then hold it for a 3rd mile. 

• Going for a PR at the end of the Runner’s World Run Strak challenge is not a good idea. Even though I had easy runs this week, my legs are tired after running at least a mile for 40 straight days.

I enjoyed the challenge of the streak and may do another one eventually, but my legs weren’t in the game all race. 

• I hated wearing compression sleeves for that distance. I was sporting America’s colors, but I never felt comfortable. I’ll go back to my rule of wearing compression for runs of an hour or longer. 

• Traveling 8 hours the day before any race sucks. It’s the hand I’m dealt for Ohio races, and something I can’t change.  

• I’ve got to get over my “I’m too close to the start” fear. Once again I had to fight a lot of traffic in the first half mile. It didn’t impact my approach drastically, but it did impact me mentally. Races also need to do a better job of lining people up, but that’s another subject for another time. 

Now it’s time to look at the calendar and find another race …