Running downashore & The Turtle Trot 5k !

What a fun time we had downashore these past 5 days! Time really flew by, but I did manage to run twice & fit in a 5k race.. more on the race in a bit.

I got up early to run on Friday & Saturday. Both days I got out a little later than I normally do, around 7:30am. I try to get out before 7:00am, but I wasn't planning any long runs. The weather both days was nice and comfortable, highs in the 60's, with an ocean breeze. I did a run out to North Wildwood, and back, running the boardwalk the last 2 miles. It was a 7 mile run, and I didn't feel that great during the run. I did the 7 miles in 1:00:44, for an 8:40 avg.

Saturday, I also did "feel" the run. I ran better than I did on Friday, but just didn't have that light on your feet feeling, or wind. I ran on the boards again, for the last 2 miles of the 6 I ran. It was a packed boardwalk, compared to Friday. It had summertime written all over it. I did the 6 miles in 49:37, for an 8:15 avg. I know the pace looks great, but I sure didn't feel great.

That leads me up to the TURTLE TROT 5k, that I ran on Sunday in Stone Harbor.

It was a nice morning for a race, slight breeze, and comfortable temps. I met up with the Joyrun family. They made the trek south to do the race. She brought along JoyHub & JoyNephew.

I found this race while surfing around for any local runs while I was in Wildwood. There were aprox 450 runners/walkers in this event. There was a local Tri, on Saturday, so a bunch of them were entered into the 5k.
With the added competition, and the way my recent runs had felt, I had no thoughts of a PR or placing in my age group. I went into the race, with the thought if I could hold on to 8min miles, and try to finish around 24:00, I would consider it a success. I even mentioned to Joy & her family, how the last few runs stunk.

I walked to the start with the JoyFam, and wished them luck, and told them I was going to move a little closer to the start/finish line. As I was getting the Garmin & Ipod ready, I kept repeating to myself to relax & don't go out like a rabbit. It did work, instead of a 6:39 mile, like I did at the Footrace, I ran the 1st mile in 7:04. It was at that point, I felt pretty good, and said "self.. relax and do it again". I was running alongside a few runners that seemed to have a nice pace, and I hung with them. As I hit the 2 mile mark, I heard the beep of the Garmin, looked down and saw I ran Mile 2 in 7:06. Now I am thinking, have I gone out too hard, am I going to implode. I just kept the pace, locked into my own little world, occasionally looking at the passing street signs. The finish was at 95Th Street, and started to count them down, a block at a time from about 115Th. I battled and kept thinking..21 and change... you can do this! I heard the beep of the Garmin at mile 3, but I didn't check the time, since I could see the clock at the finish, and it was 21:30. I had the last .10 mile to run, and did it! I finished in 21:56 ! A new PR! I had ran mile 3 in 7:08. Unbelievable... as bad as I felt the past 2 days of heavy legs and no wind, were wiped away with this run! It just goes to show you, ya just never know with this sport.
I was able to get a bottle of water, and see Joy Nephew finish in the 24's, and Joy in the 26's. Both PR's! And I can't forget JoyHub. I got my camera from the car, and just got back to see him finish around 31mins.
It was a great time. It was cool to run again with Joy & her family, who were headed out for breakfast afterwards.

I did check the finish board before I left, and I finished 50th out of about 450, and they had my time at 21:56

Garmin time:
1. 7:04

2. 7:06

3. 7:08

.10 :35