Rapid Rabbit 5 Miler Recap

This is the last race recap for a couple of weeks. 3 races, 3 weekends in a row is definitely a recipe for tired, spent legs. The race on Saturday wasn’t my best feeling race, but I think this was from the lack of recovery time.

I am training for a full marathon, with another half in April, so my weekly mileage has been high, not allowing for any recovery time inbetween races and I felt it at the Rapid Rabbit. I didn’t PR, thus I didn’t meet my sub-30 time goal for the 5 mile, but I wasn’t disappointed with my effort and overall time.

I was the first female overall and the 5th or 6th runner overall, but my legs weren’t firing the way I wanted them too. I did get a nice 1 mile warm up in before the race, as Marc’s mom came to watch Baby R while we raced. It was quick, but it at least it was something.

Marc and I lined up wearing our matching Janji singlets, and a lady said we must be the winners, because we looked like we were going to win. She called it I guess. Marc took 1st overall in the 3 mile. We brought home the hardware.

The first 3 miles went well for me, but I knew my pace wasn’t fast. I felt like I was going slow, but I couldn’t seem to get my legs to move any faster. I kept the lead men in sight and used them as my targets.

There was a little breeze, but the wind didn’t pick up until the end of the race, which also had a nice incline to the finish, which hurt me more this year than it did last year when I was pregnant.

Mile 1: 5:55  Mile 2: 6:13 Mile 3: 6:08

My 3-4 mile was my worst feeling mile. I felt spent and honestly wished the race was over. I kept my eyes on a guy in front of me, and my goal was to pass him. He motivated me to keep going. I passed him before mile 4, and looked for my next target.

I wasn’t as motivated to pick up the pace with no female close behind me or in front of me. I almost caught the next guy in front of me as we made the climb to the finish.

Mile 4: 6:19 Mile 5: 6:03

I actually gave it a little kick in this time around and saw Marc, Baby R and my mother-in-love waiting for me and heard them cheer me on.

A repeat win at the Rapid Rabbit, with a 2 minute faster time than my previous time at the same race last year. My official time was 30:40, with a 6:08 average pace. Even though it wasn’t a PR it was still a good race. I kept moving when I didn’t want to, and tried to keep my pace consistent, even though my legs weren’t moving as fast as my mind was urging them too.

Racing is funny. It’s a physical battle with a mental battle, and usually the mental battle is the hardest to overcome. In this particular race, my mind was all for it and was strong, but my legs (the physical) were too tired and heavy. My mind propelled me further, when my body wanted to quit. It doesn’t always happen like this for me. Sometimes I lose both the physical and mental battle.

It’s almost funny how much matters in racing. How we have to stay strong mentally and physically. How we can lose a race or win a race even before it begins, whether it be a PR, an overall win, an age group win, etc.

I was mentally prepared this go around and told myself from the beginning I would win. Not in a cocky, arrogant way, but in a mentally strong way. I had confidence that if my body wanted to fail, my mind would take over. I had a goal and repeated it over and over. My A goal of a sub-30 didn’t happen, but honestly I lost before I began. Deep down I knew it wasn’t going to happen.

I guess I didn’t want it as much as I thought. I am learning so much more through my racing, and appreciate what my body is capable of.

Here’s to a sub-30 5 mile in the future!!

Oh and favorite part of my day was during my 5 mile cool down after the race when an elderly gent slowed down beside me and say “Hey you are doing 13 mph, pretty good.” I don’t think I was going that fast, but he was a sweetheart.

Until Next Time Be Whole and Be Fit

How do you overcome the mental battle? Have you ever overcome the physical battle with a mental battle?