Stop the Cycle of CVS 5K
how refreshing, an honest to goodness 5K. not 2.9 miles or 3.3 miles but a certified 3.1 mile course. while the course isn’t closed for the two-loop race, the organizers wait to start the accompanying walk until the runners complete the first loop. the 9am start time was also appreciated as it made enough time to get a quick haircut before the race.
see jerry run. run jerry run. (#202)
from the start, i was immediately in second place as a younger runner jumped out with a flat-out sprint. recognizing it as a “jackrabbit” start, i tempered my effort a bit through the first half mile and gradually reeled him in. pulling up on his shoulder, and knowing that i don’t have the finishing kick of my youth, i opted to throw down an early surge to put some distance between us. the first mile passed for me in 5:42 and about a quarter mile later i glanced over my shoulder to note that i had established the intended gap.
i rolled past the starting line to begin my second loop and got some applause from the assembled walkers. i returned the sentiment with an overhead clap of my own (like the pro soccer players do) then returned to the task at hand. (instead of clapping my hands overhead, i suppose i could have stopped and perhaps attempted a handstand for the walkers…but that may have been a bit “over the top” under the circumstances.)
passing two miles in just under twelve minutes, i was beginning to feel it. i focused on simply “maintaining” and “breathing” which carried me through the third mile. as i turned east onto the bridge over the fox river, one last glance behind me confirmed that i had enough of a lead to get to the finish line first.
the slight downhill grade allowed me to simply ease my way in. i gave a bit of a fist pump and after finishing i had a little time to collect myself as others finished. the customary “good race” and quick handshakes were then exchanged between those of us who had finished early. still being a bit winded, i slowly walked for a bit until feeling right again.
claiming an overall win hasn’t happened often for me. in fact, this was only the third time in twenty plus years. granted, each win has been at a small race but it’s still a lot of fun when it does happen. this effort netted me a medal and a $100 gift certificate to the Revolution Natural Running & Walking Center for some new running shoes. also, i’d be remiss if i didn’t mention that if you’d want to know more about CVS, visit their web site at cvsaonline.org.
5K SPLITS
1M – 5:42
2M – 6:17 (11:59)
3M – 6:27 (18:26)
.1M – 0:49 (19:15)
RECENT MILES
5/29 – 7 miles
5/30 – 7 miles
5/31 – 5 miles (noon) and 4 miles (evening)
** May – 200 miles (26/31 days) **
6/1 – off
6/2 – 1.8 mile warm up, 5K in 19:15, 4.9 mile cool down
6/3 – 6 miles
MTD – 15.75 miles (2/3 days)
YTD – 914 miles (133/153 days)
Odometer – 33,639 miles
consistent constant
there are times when a quote says it better than you can say it yourself. more than a decade ago i spotted this gem online and scribbled it on a post-it note.
Life may be compared to a marathon that we are called upon to run, each in our own way and at our own pace. But the finish line is the same for us all. — Pope John Paul II
the same handwritten post-it note remains on a shelf above my desk. sometimes i forget it’s there; but when i need to be reminded, it just takes a glance.
5/21 – 5 miles (noon) & 7 miles (evening)
5/22 – off
5/23 – 5 miles
5/24 – 8 miles
5/25 – off
5/26 – 6 miles
5/27 – 8 miles
5/28 – 10 miles
MTD – 177 miles (23/28 days)
YTD – 875 miles (128/147 days)
Odometer – 33,600 miles
staying cool
earlier today, the Green Bay Marathon was shut down (due to the unseasonably warm temperatures) nearly two and a half hours after the race started. while i didn’t show up for the race, i was in town visiting my in-laws and had started my morning constitutional at around the same time as the marathon. my effort started at an easy pace and after about an hour i picked it up a bit and was averaging a little under 8 minute pace for the last seven miles of my fifteen mile run.
for me, it was warm for mid-May but manageable with a conservative pace. honestly, i wouldn’t have wanted to be racing under those conditions. i’ve read through some of the comments on the facebook page for the marathon and most folks seem to be supportive of the decision to stop the event. a few folks cited seeing other runners in distress and being attended to by medical personnel. to me it seems as though the race staff made the right decision and i’m hopeful that anyone affected by the heat will be alright.
5/10 – 7 miles
5/11 – 7 miles
5/12 – 14 miles
5/13 – off
5/14 – 5 miles
5/15 – 7 miles
5/16 – 8 miles
5/17 – 5 miles
5/18 – 7 miles
5/19 – 7 miles
5/20 – 15 miles
MTD – 128 miles (17/20 days)
YTD – 826 miles (122/139 days)
Odometer – 33,551 miles
personal pivot
as much as i appreciate having a locker room at work, i really do prefer to start my day with a run. no matter what happens during the rest of my day, at least i have accomplished something. that said, the earlier sunrise and warmer temps of the spring have been helping the transition back to morning constitutionals. honestly, it’s really tough to run in the early morning through a wisconsin winter.
4/24 – 7 miles
4/25 – 5 miles
4/26 – 5 miles
4/27 – 5 miles
4/29 – 7 miles
4/30 – 5 miles
5/1 – 7 miles
5/2 – 5 miles
5/3 – 7.5 miles
5/4 – 5 miles
5/5 – off (really bad headache)
5/6 – off (headache hangover)
5/7 – 7 miles
5/8 – 7.5 miles
5/9 – 7 miles
MTD – 46 miles (7/9 days)
YTD – 744 miles (112/128 days)
Odometer – 33,469 miles
coming around
ever so gradually i am ramping up the miles again. i really don’t have any major aches or pains to speak of but my desire to race has yet to return.
“You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can’t know what’s coming.” – Frank Shorter (1972 Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist)
4/11 – 5 miles
4/12 – 8 miles
4/13 – 8 miles (first four in 31:21, last four in 27:43)
4/14 – 8 miles (first four in 31:05, last four in 29:19)
4/15 – 7 miles
4/16 – off
4/17 – 5 miles
4/18 – 5 miles
4/19 – 5 miles
4/20 – 6 miles
4/21 – 12 miles (first six in 47:11, last six in 42:28)
4/22 – 5 miles
4/23 – 5 miles
MTD – 114 miles (19/23 days)
YTD – 664 miles (99/113 days)
Odometer – 33,389 miles