Firecracker 5K recap

OK I wanted to write a quick recap about the Firecracker 5K I ran this past July 4th. As I mentioned in my previous post, it was a HOT and HUMID day. I had originally planned on wearing this super cool and lightweight Saucony tank and New Balance running skirt I recently bought at Fleet Feet, but when I realized on the Fourth of July I should be rocking red, white and blue I had to make some last minute outfit adjustments.

I decided on a blue Nike tank top. I don’t really care for the tank for several reasons, for one the fabric is surprisingly heavy for a tank. Also the shelf bra seems kind of short and I have to physically pull the shelf down with some effort to get my “girls” contained (and I’m a normal sized person, not huge or anything up top). But since I don’t own any red tanks or any other blue ones and wanted to stick with the Independence Day theme I had to deal with this top. I stuck with the NB running skirt because I wanted to rock it in a race in the worst way. Finally, I went with some Nike socks for the simple fact that they were red. They were a little thicker than I like to run in but since it was only a 5K, sock thickness wasn’t gonna be an issue anyway. And since I had already spent a ridiculous amount on compression socks in June I couldn’t justify buying the super festive ProCompression red white and blue pair just for one race. Oh and of course I was rocking my Mizuno Wave Riders.

firecracker race outfit

On to the elevation. As I mentioned in my last post, this course was rolling hills. I mean NO flats.

course elevation

It was an out and back, with my brother and his girlfriend stationed at the turn-around point cheering me on and my husband and the kids at the start/finish line. When my brother saw me he told me I was looking rough (that’s a brother for you ;)), and my husband’s only remark was that I “looked REALLY hot” (not in a sexy way, but a sweaty way). And I was – the temp for that day actually got up to 86* plus the high humidity. It was probably 80* at the start of the race. I didn’t stop for any water stops (maybe I should have and just dumped the water on my shirt) and I was HOT. When I was about half a mile from the finish line the sun came out (it was kind of overcast that morning) and when the sun hit me on top of the heat I just felt the energy sap out of my legs. I preach in my spin classes all the time that nobody quits when they see the finish line – that’s when we all turn it up so our family’s can see us running our best at the end. But I wanted to quit. I was overheated. I dug deep and pushed it out. When I crossed the finish line, that’s the closest I’ve felt to throwing up after a race in a long time. I finished in 25:29, not a PR but not a bad race considering the hilly course and the weather.

I don’t have another 5K planned until September, when I have two on back to back weekends. One I know for sure is flat, however I help organize the race and may end up volunteering to help at a water stop or something and not get to run it. The other I’ve also heard is pretty flat, except I have a friend who ran it and at one point it crosses train tracks and he got stuck waiting for a train to go by, LOL! So from here on out I’m 100% focusing on endurance and cross training for the Tough Mudder next month.

Did you get a run in on the Fourth of July?