Race Report: ATC Cross Country Haunted Hustle 5K

The last 5K I ran (without a jogging stroller) was the Atlanta Women’s 5K back in late-March.  This was my first race after completing Couch To 5K and getting back into running again.  I had a goal then to finish in less than 35 minutes and I met that goal with a time of 34:01.

Nearly 7 months later, I had bigger expectations for myself.  I’ve lost a ton of weight since then and run much further and much faster while training for my half-marathon.  I had hopes to complete this race in 27:30-ish.  I figured I could hold 9 minute miles for a 5K distance.  I’ve run much faster during speedwork training, but I usually take a break between miles then.

I headed up to Canton on a cold, cold Saturday morning.  I was a little worried about the course because Cross Country races can get a little trail like.  The last time I ran a Cross Country race with the track club, we had to run through a wooded area and keep our eyes peeled for tree roots.  I’m clumsy so I’m not into the trail running thing.  Twisting an ankle is the week before my half-marathon was not on my agenda.

Luckily, this course was not wooded.  We did run in a lot of grass though (extra resistance!) and on tiny dirt paths (crowded!).  The course was basically a one mile loop repeated 3 times.  I wasn’t too keen on that in the beginning but towards the end I really appreciated knowing where I was on the course and how much longer I had to endure.

It was cold that morning in the 45 degree range and it really felt like it.  I forgot my gloves, but my running jacket has the thumbholes things (love!) so I avoided frostbite.  Using the thumbholes meant that my running watch was covered up by my jacket sleeve though.  I had no clue about my pacing during the run.  I was just running hard and running as fast as I could.

At the first mile loop, I heard the timekeeper say something 8:02 and I got excited.  How had I managed that speed while jockeying for position on a crowded path?  No way could I keep this up!  At the second mile loop, I got even more excited.  I could see the big “Mile 2″ sign about .10 miles away and I was passed by some long lanky guys in official track club shorts and singlets.  I knew they were on their way to finishing the whole race while I was just starting my 3rd lap.  I also know that those types of guys finish 5ks in 15 or 16 minutes so that meant I was on track for something close to another 8 minute mile.  Sure enough, the timekeeper said 16:20 something.  Yes!

I was very tired at this point, but I wasn’t going to stop or slow down if I could help it.  People near me started walking but I quickly passed them and moved on.  I swear, the quickest way to lose motivation to push through the pain is to see everyone in front of you stopping!  I always run my own race.   I don’t follow behind others for inspiration because when they slow down, you tend to slow down.  You lose sight of how fast you can run or meant to run because you are tracking them.  It is sort of like that driver’s ed concept of velocitization.  Everyone winds up going the same speed but their speed is not my speed.  Out of my way!

I passed people walking.  I passed people running slower than my pace.  I huffed and puffed and the finish line was in sight.  I practically sprinted across while the time clock read 26:04 or 8:23 min/mile.  I did much better than I anticipated!

Another small good thing came out of this run…  My capris kept slipping all around while I was running!  I think I’m officially done with Size Large workout clothes.  I remember when those pants were tight!