Do the Shuffle

While in my mind I post on this blog at least 3 or 4 times a week, I don't come close to doing that and I haven't posted in over a week. Since the last post, I ran the Sylvan Shuffle 5k.

I put this one on my schedule early because, last year, it was the first time I ever got a trophy for running. I didn't race fast enough to "deserve" to win anything, but it was very encouraging regardless.

 

 And here it is!

This year, it was unlikely that I would win a trophy because instead of giving age group trophies for adults, they only had them for the top 3 men and women overall. (The kids had tons of trophies - darn kids). I got there a little early (as usual) and sized up the competition, trying to figure out if I could place 3rd or better overall. While it isn't accurate to judge an individual by their looks, you can often tell if you are facing trained runners or not. There were quite a few people who appeared to be good runners. 

I shouldn't expect to place overall at any race and it is presumptuous that I should expect to place in anything at all, but I have been feeling quite competitive lately, both against myself and other people. I'm not good enough to feel that way, but it is what it is. :)

As the race got underway, I felt pretty good and finished the first mile under 7 minutes (probably the first in a race as an adult). The second mile I slowed a bit but I recovered for the 3rd mile and change, finishing in 22:50, a PR and about 5 minutes faster than last year. I didn't come close to finishing in the top 3. The official results have not yet been posted, but I'm guessing I was somewhere around 12 - 15th overall. I think I placed in my age group, but still don't know if I did yet. 

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Lil' C has one more training run left to complete her "Couch to 5K" training. She has done two 30 minute runs and has one left. She's done very well and I am proud of her (as always).

We still have 3 weeks until her "Big Race" (Open Door Julie Run 5k), so we'll need to improvise a plan to keep her ready. We might try a "practice race" next weekend. Maybe Mom and J-Man can make some signs and cheer us on and we can a race in the neighborhood.

Have a great weekend!