This weekend I ran the Lawyers Have Heart 5K for the fourth time (not counting the virtual versions in 2021 and 2022). The 10K used to be the race I loved to hate until I realized the 5K sucks so much less. It’s still a really tough race, though.
My Garmin time was 26:01.
I was so glad my chip time was 25:59 🤣
First, I want to thank everyone who supported my fundraising efforts for the American Heart Association. It is a cause that is near and dear to my heart in every way.
2022 Lawyers Have Heart 5K Race Recap
I headed into race weekend with too little training for a 5K, too little sleep, and too much else going on. My training was delayed by my sprained foot and then interrupted by a business trip to Chicago. I barely got 5 hours sleep Thursday night (after getting home late due to a delayed flight) and Friday night (after getting home late after a client dinner). And, I had another business trip to Chicago with a mid-afternoon flight after the race. I think that’s all my excuses ….
One good thing about doing the same race year after year is that I have the logistics down pat. I set my alarm for my usual weekday wake-up time of 5 am, got dressed, took Scooby for a walk—and discovered it was raining! That was not in my plan for this race! The Weather Channel app promised the rain would let up by the 7 am start time, so I decided not to let down my colleagues and run on my treadmill instead. 😉
I fixed myself a cup of coffee and 1/2 PB sandwich for the car, and drove to the Kennedy Center which offered free parking to race participants. I arrived shortly after 6 am and walked the 1/2 mile to my office (where the race is held) in steady drizzle. I had brought a towel so I could warm up with some Peloton classes in my office. I usually try to avoid core classes with mountain climbers, but figured they would be a good pre-run exercise. Hannah’s 10 min barre classes always have glute-activating moves, and this new one was no exception.
By the time I was finished a colleague who agreed to run with me was ready to head out. It was barely drizzling, so we did a short warm-up run (~1/3 mile) before heading under the Whitehurst Freeway to line up. Honestly, even that warm-up run felt hard. 😕
We spotted a few friends and barely had time for a selfie before it was time for the National Anthem. After that, we were off!
The 5K route is in purple
The 5K course is a pretty straight out-and-back route on the Whitehurst Freeway and Canal Road. It’s also mostly flat except the ramps to get on and off the freeway at each end. So, why was it so hard?
Oof! Look at that pace drop during the last mile.
- It was humid. I was grateful not to be running in the sun, but the rain left behind humidity—although there was a breeze off the river from time to time.
- I ran without music. I know some people never run with music, but I always do—unless I’m running with a friend. But, racing with a friend is different. Since this wasn’t a “conversation pace” run, we couldn’t really chat—or at least I couldn’t. I noticed how hard I was breathing and he wasn’t, and I could tell he was holding back to stay with me.
- It was slippery. After I felt my foot slip on some steel joists in the freeway, I was careful about my footing. I wasn’t being overly cautious—a guy not too far ahead of us wiped out on the hairpin turn-around (he wasn’t hurt).
- I missed my Scooby stops! There were so many times I wanted to stop and catch my breath. I think all my running with Scooby has impacted my endurance—at least for pushing hard.
- I placed 3rd in my age group. The last time I ran this race live I placed second in my age group (and the time before that I was first!), but my 3rd place finish made me realize that this race was hard because I ran hard—and wasn’t that the point?
I’m joining Tuesday Topics with Kooky Runner and Zenaida’s and the Runner’s Roundup with Mile By Mile, Coach Debbie Runs, Confessions of a Mother Runner and Runs with Pugs.
Do you have a good strategy for a 5K race?
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Despite all those challenges you did great. Obviously pace is so individual.
Reading your recap reminded me of mine lol
Glad your foot behaved.
And no I’m still struggling with the 5k. Half marathon are much less stressful.
LOL, 5ks are tough!
25:59 is an excellent time for a 5k, Coco! Well done, you can be very proud of your 3rd AG ranking! Especially with that hectic schedule, my goodness.
I also sometimes wonder about how taking breaks affects my training. I take a million breaks when I’m on my bike, usually poorly disguised as “photo stops”.
So today, I did 40k on the bike without any breaks, just do see if I can do it. It’s the distance of the bike segment in the upcoming triathlon.
So, how did it go?
It went well! Although it took me 90 minutes. I think that’s on the slower side! 😬
Congrats on a great race! 5k’s are hard in a different way. Running faster for shorter amounts of time is harder for me than running longer sometimes. I really do have to do this race one of these years! Nice job out there
Congrats on your race and 3rd place AG win! You really had a few things working against you but you pushed through like a champ!
I always shunned 5K’s as “easy, short races.” That’s until I started actually “racing” them. That’s a long distance to hold a fast pace, especially for peeps like me who are much more gifted with endurance than speed. Congrats on your 3rd place AG, though! That’s a huge victory given the busy week you had 😉
5ks are very hard, and adding in little sleep and travel . . . still, a third place AG is nothing to sneeze at at all!
When I ran with Bandit I actually didn’t really enjoy it all that much. Even though I often use run/walk, Bandit would pee EVERY time I stopped to walk. They were definitely slow miles.
This one was truly about the cause, though, wasn’t it? 🙂
Congrats on placing 3rd in your AG even though it seemed like a really hard race for you. It’s difficult to run in the humidity, you probably would have felt better if the drizzle had stuck around.
That’s how it should be – hard because you ran hard! Well done for a great performance and a 3rd place AG even with all those things against you! What an awesome cause too.
Congrats on your 3rd place AG win! Your pace looks great to me!
I agree about running with Scooby effecting your pace. I feel the same way about my running with Luna. Sometimes I’m grateful for the stops though. 😉
Yep, 5Ks are hard! So, you did it right. If you’re really racing a 5K you’ll be wiped out by the end (it feels so good though when you’re done, right?). Congratulations on your AG place- your time is excellent. I wish I were running 5Ks that fast right now! Oh and yes- definitely go with your chip time. Garmin paces are always off!
Congrats on your 3rd place AG win! 5ks are hard but overall you did great.