Trail runs & the Fabulous Feat 5k

As May comes to an end, it also ends my goal of running at least a 100 miles a month for the year. With the rains we had here in NJ, and the start of the 5k season, I ended May at 78.21 miles. Not bad, but I need to get back to my long runs on Sunday mornings.

I ran with the Trailrunsgroup this past Saturday morning. We met at Clayton Park, and while it wasn't a long trail run, Bill Y. came up with the idea of doing "ladders" on the long hill.

These were hard, and it something I wouldn't do on my own, so I was glad to do them. I want to make sure I continue to do this type of workout into my marathon training later this summer. I have never been good at hills, both up and downhill, and I can tell I am getting better, since I started running the trails.

It was nice to be back with them, since I missed the past 2 weeks, being downashore.

Sunday, there was a nice little local 5k in Veteran's Park, the FabulousFeat5k.

I ran into Jess who was there with her son, ready to run. Gotta give her credit to run a 5k with a stroller. I also ran into an old family friend who runs all the local 5k's. He's a good guy, who's still running at 64! Hopefully I'll be able to run at that age.
It was perfect weather for the run. There was a little over 100 runners, so it was a nice crowd. I was worried about being a rabbit at the start with the smaller crowd. I kept that in mind when the race started. I didn't get caught up at the start, and settled into my own pace. I tried to keep the same pace from last Sunday's 5k. I did that for the most part.
It was nice to run a "home race", as I run many miles in Veteran's Park. The hard part of the 5k's there, is the long uphill around the 2.5 mile mark! I knew when I hit the 2 mile mark, I had a chance at a PR, but that uphill would tell the tale. I attacked it the best I could, and felt pretty afterwards, and when I saw the clock, I knew it would be close. I didn't have much left for the last .10, but I managed to cross at 21:59, .03 off of last weeks PR. I was glad to break the 22 min barrier again.

I did get 2nd in my age group which was cool.

Here are some pictures from the run, Jesswith her son in the stroller & the Deacon at the finish line, and Deacon & I getting our 2nd place age group medals.

21:59 (7:05 avg.)

1. 6:58

2. 7:07

3. 7:09

.10 :45