Palmetto Hearts 5k recap and look ahead to Greer

When I made the plan to get to a marathon, I knew that April would bring a half marathon.  However when friends of our and parents of our son's good friend wanted me to run a 5k in April to benefit children with Congenial Heart defects like their son's I said sure...as long as it's not on the same weekend as the Half Marathon in Greer.  Thus I was registered in the Palmetto Hearts 5k on my favorite course in Spartanburg, the Duncan Park 5k course. 

One debate in the running community is whether or not to run a 5k race the weekend before a half marathon.  I must admit that with the race the weekend before the half marathon, I was a little conflicted, but I had committed, but the week before the Greer the debate in my head was how hard to push it.  The morning of one of my training partners reminded me, just get your miles for  the day in, treat it as tempo run and you'll be fine.  Side note, I was restless the night before and for whatever reason, that is a sign of a good race ahead.   On to the race.

It was around 50 degrees as we got close to race time, I had warmed up with 3 miles (that plus the race and cooldown would get me to the mileage needed), but the start was to be delayed by a half-hour...yay, but I was able to go back and forth to get a swig from my water bottle.  With over 300 registered and not knowing how I would do, I decided to start about four rows back from the start.  After the pre-race announcements and some conversation with a few people, including two ladies who work where I get my hair cut, it was almost time for the go siren.  On your marks, runners set...(siren sound), and we are off!  I weave my way through traffic, I started too far back, by the first quarter mile, I had settled to sixth.  At the turn I had comfortably positioned myself in fourth, this is good to hold I thought, easy age group win from here.  Passed another person up to third and closing in on second going into the mile 1 mark up and down and back up passing for second and me and another guy make it three wide for second.  He settles in second and takes off and I stay in third.  Mile two is flatter than mile one and mile three, so we keep our paces hoping to hold it as we go into mile three.  In the last 3/4 mile there is a half mile long hill, as I hit the hill I am surprisingly confident.  I did this mile in the same time as the flatter mile two on Thursday's tempo run.   It is still possible to nab second and maybe first, but I decide to push it but not overly push.   I crest the hill with just over a quarter to go and I can see the two in front of me.  At this point I am just thinking about a good strong time, cross the 3 mile point just one tenth to go, and it's time to push it in...man am I feeling strong today, start the push and hear a lady telling someone (not me) 'You're at 20 minutes!!!'  Yikes I didn't think anyone was near, so with the little extra in the tank I push, and with my family and team manager Keeghan watching in boderline shock that I'm crusing in third I put the final dash on, come home 3rd overall for Team Keeghan in 20:50.  No age group award, but I'll take third overall!  Not to mention the confidence that comes with the time and finish.  I get my award from Miss South Carolina and look ahead to Greer. 

My second half marathon comes this Saturday in Greer, I am confident that I will have an awesome time and that my training is paying off and another good time is ahead. 

Team Keeghan finishing strong

Me getting my award from Miss South Carolina...what could be finer?

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