Tuesday's On the Run: Firecracker 5000

Hey guys! Another quick update from Hilton Head--probably my last until Friday! I wanted to get a quick recap up from my race on Saturday a) before I forget it and b) because I'm so darn proud of the race I ran! 

Linking up with MCM Mama Runs (www.mcmmamaruns.com)! (Sorry for the wonky formatting!)

For the last several years, we've been coming down to Hilton Head for the Fourth of July holiday and starting about 3 years ago, I started running in be Firecracker 5000--a local 5k with about 1,500 (!) runners! A little different from home, huh?!

My goal every year has been the same--place in my age group. I've been oh so close every year but not quite gotten there--until this year.

The race was in a new location this year and it was perfect. Mostly because it was within walking distance to where we are staying so I used the walk over as my "warm-up". As I have before most races lately, my legs just weren't feeling it before hand. It was SUPER hot, I'd been on the beach all day Friday (poor me, right?), and I was out of my normal race morning conditions. I didn't put much stock in meeting my goal and just told myself to go out and have fun. 

Cue to the start of the race--as soon as I get my adrenaline pumping, it's on. Once the gun went off, I knew it was going to be a good race. It was crowded at the start but about a quarter mile in, it let up and I started picking people out left and right to pace off of. As soon as I passed them, I'd move on to the next. I think a combo of this and the new course kept my mind from thinking about pace and how bad my legs were burning. ;) 

To be honest, I had no clue what my pace even was. I don't know that I even looked down at my watch once the entire race. All of the miles came fast and before I knew it, I was crossing the finish line. When I looked down at my watch and the clock at the finish line, I was SHOCKED. My 5k PR has been 21:45 FOREVER. I've gotten close lately but haven't quite broken it. 

Saturday? 

Umm, beach running is clearly good to me. I couldn't believe I not only beat my PR but CRUSHED it. Never in my wildest DREAMS did I think I'd PR Saturday. 

I think one of the big motivating factors for me was that I was put in the "Zina" category--145 pounds and over. I was over the cutoff by 2 pounds. I've only ran a few races with a weight category and I'm not a fan. I know some are but I'm old school and think that weight shouldn't matter in running. That being said, I was a) not only going to win my category but b) win my age group too. 

Well folks, I did. I FINALLY broke through and won! I've never thought my weight was a big deal with running and still don't. This Zina can run fast and that's all that matters. I won Zina by 4 minutes and would have won my age group (25-29) by a solid 30 seconds. Take that. 

It was a great race and I'm so proud of my shiny new PR! I'm not sure I will be able to break it again anytime soon but you better believe I'm going to keep trying! 

And as a part of this week's TOTR, follow me on Instagram! That's where I do a majority of my posting and is clearly my favorite social media platform. 

Http://www.instagram.com/sarahc33

Again, sorry for the crazy formatting! 

Have a great Tuesday everyone! I'm off for a run and another day at the beach!

Sarah