I ran the first race in the club Grand Prix, which consists of 3K, 1K, 1 Mile and 5K races, all run over the two week period in July. All races, except 1 Mile, are on roads, while the mile is run on the track.
It was a little too warm for racing, around 70F and sunny. It's considered hot in Lodon :). I got to the park early and did 2.1 mile warmup. My legs did not feel god at all. I was hoping that I wouldn't be sore just yet (after doing sprints yesterday), but I was already stiff and sore by lunch time. This was a very small race, only 70 runners, and once the race started, everyone just shot off like loose canons!! I was really afraid I would be left so far behind that I could get lost, because I didn't pay attention to the route. Usually there is always someone I can follow, but in a race so small, and being so out of shape I started to worry. When I looked at Garmin a minute after the start, it said I was going at 6:30 pace. I panicked and tried to back off. Still, I went anaerobic very early, within first 3 minutes, I would say. So the rest of the race was pretty horrible. I forgot just how much 3Ks and 5Ks hurt! I did manage to pass two girls who started even faster than me, and died. I thought I was breathing heavy, but they were literally wheezing when I went past them. I took my splits every kilometer and they were 4:26, 4:37, 4:32 - 13:36 total time. The kilometer markers were very accurate. My fears of being last did not materialize, but I was 60th out of 70, so pretty close to the end. I got second in 40-45 category, but there were only 2 women in that category in the race :). Full results: http://www.serpentine.org.uk/rdb/showrace.php?race=4442
This was my first long distance race since last year, and since my PE in January. I didn't really have any expectations, but secretly was hoping for around 13:30 at least. Didn't quite make it, but at least now I put a stake in the ground, and know where I stand. I should get additional clues from mile and 5K races next week (not doing 1K since I'll be out of town this weekend). For comparison, I ran 12:57 a year ago on the track, and I think these races can be compared, because this 3K was flat and accurately measured and the weather was similar. Based on 13:36, I think I'm looking at around 23:40 5K - not encouraging, but again, it will be a stake in the ground. I don't know how much of my slowdown is due to being out of shape, and how much is due to possible lung damage. I will need few months of consistent training to tell. I want to believe it's a matter of training. | 