Cruising the Creekwalk 5K Race Recap

January 27, 2018

It's been seven months since my last race. I was somewhat disappointed in my last two 5K's because I wasn't running the times that I did before my knee surgery. I avoided signing up for races for fear of my finish times. I've finally realized that it's just going to take time. One of my goals for 2018 is to get back to running the local races that I love for fun and catching up with old running friends.

I am currently training for the Publix Women's Half Marathon in Savannah, GA. After a month of running consistently, I was ready to race again. This was my fifth year running Cruising the Creekwalk 5K. I missed the online preregistration. Race day was in the 50's with light rain. I debated going, but it was either run this 5K or run 7 miles alone in the rain. I gave myself permission to skip my long run for some speed work.

I am glad that I decided to go. My friend Valerie (icecreamrunner) was there. We lined up together at the start line. She started incorporating hills and speed work into her training, and she hoped to beat her last 5K time of 28 minutes. I didn't know what to expect after seven months of not running consistently and not racing. I hoped I could still run a sub-30 minute 5K. Deep down I hoped to better my time from my last two 5K's.

It was great to see Valerie again. It's been a while!

We caught a break in the rain during the race. I never heard any announcements at the start. We were all standing at the start line talking when all of sudden the buzzer sounded and everyone took off. I looked down at my Garmin and noticed it was on a walk activity. I messed around with it to get it back to run mode. My run/walk intervals are already programmed in, and I knew I might need them later. I've used 90 sec run/30 sec walk intervals in my training runs before this race.

Valerie's husband captured this picture of me fussing with my Garmin at the start.

Valerie is on her phone.

Valerie and I were running side by side during most of the first mile. I clocked the first mile in 8:33. Valerie started pulling ahead. I tried my best to stick with her, but by 1.5 miles I needed a walk break. The gap was widening and I knew there was no way I could catch her.

During my first walk break a nice lady patted me on the back and encouraged me to keep going. I know she had good intentions, but I was slightly annoyed. I thanked her, but I felt the need to assure her that I was using walk/run intervals.

Mile 2 is always my slowest in this race. There are a few small inclines followed by some fast downhill stretches. I clocked mile 2 in 9:46 using the 90 x 30 run/walk intervals.

I ran as much as I could in the last mile. I didn't follow the intervals on my watch and only took two 30 second walk breaks. As I neared the finish line the clock read 27 minutes and some seconds. I sprinted to cross before the clock hit 28 minutes. My last mile was 8:40. My finish time was 27:49.

Finish line photo

While my finish time was nowhere near a personal best on this course, I am still pleased with it. I didn't expect to place because this race usually yields fast times. I was surprised to hear my name announced for second place in my age group. Valerie finished in 26:37 and took second place in her age group as well.

2nd Place AG 30-34

This race was a real confidence boost to kick off 2018. I plan to run another local 5K in February and hopefully a 10K in March (I haven't decided on which one) before my half marathon in April.

2017 Recap

My 2017 yearly totals are nowhere near the 1,243 running miles that I logged in 2016, but I've learned a lot this year. 

I only ran five races in 2017: a marathon, a half marathon, and three 5K's.

I ran my third marathon at Mobile First Light on January 8, 2017. I trained longer and harder for this marathon than I did for my first two. I added an extra day of running each week and a second 20 mile long run. My training went well and I was confident that I would accomplish a PR at this race. I started experiencing pain in my right knee around mile 8 and by the half way point I resorted to walking a lot. My finish time was 4:51:49, faster than my first marathon but six minutes slower than my second marathon. You can read more about this race here.

Marathon #3

January 8, 2017

Mobile First Light Marathon

4:51:49

Despite my better judgement I ran the Big Beach Half Marathon just three weeks after the full marathon. I enjoyed this race so much in 2016 that I wanted to run it again. I hoped to better my time in 2017. Around mile 5 the same knee pain that I experienced in Mobile returned. Again I resorted to walking a lot. I finished in 2:22:41, my second slowest half marathon. You can read about it here.

After this race I feared that something was seriously wrong with my knee. I had three other half marathons in February and March, and I hoped that my knee wouldn't stop me from running them.

Half Marathon #15

Big Beach Half Marathon

January 29, 2017

2:22:41

I attended Jeff Galloway's Running School during the Big Beach Half Marathon weekend.

He was so nice and down to earth. He took the time to answer questions and sign books.

I've used his run/walk method on every run since attending his class in January.

After running the Big Beach Half Marathon, I continued to train for my upcoming half marathons. I only managed four three mile runs before my knee pain was unbearable. I could hardly walk much less run. The pain was excruciating. It was time to get it checked out.

Fortunately, my husband works with the best orthopedic specialists in the area. He was able to get me an appointment right away. The doctor examined my knee and immediately suspected that I had a torn meniscus. He scheduled an MRI that same day. The MRI confirmed that I had a longitudinal tear in my medial meniscus.

I had a knee arthroscopy on February 22, 2017 to repair the torn meniscus. When the doctor went in to operate, he found that the tear was on the underside of my medial meniscus not a surface tear. Since it shouldn't cause any complications he left my meniscus intact. The doctor did discover some softening of my cartilage surrounding my tibial plateau. He performed a chondroplasty, stimulating the area around the soft spot, and injected me with PRP (platelet rich plasma) which will help with recovery. My cartilage damage was due to overuse from logging too much mileage. The doctor said I could attempt shorter races by late spring, but he advised me to take a break from longer distances especially the marathon. He also encouraged me to cross train, which I knew I should have done all along.

February 22, 2017

Knee Arthroscopy

I rode my indoor bike trainer and started swimming with the local masters swim team while I was recovering from my surgery. I attempted some shorter runs using the run/walk method a month after my surgery. I ran a few 5k's in late spring/early summer.

May 13, 2017

AGAPE Run for a Mom

This race has become a tradition for my mom and I.

This was our 6th year participating in this race.

You can read more about it here.

May 28, 2017

Paradise Island 5K

28:35/ 3rd AG 30-34

Read more about this race here.

June 17, 2017

Cornerstone Peach Run 5K

29:17/ 2nd AG 30-39

Read more about this race here.

I mentioned that I joined the local masters swim team in March. I competed in two swim meets this year. Yes, old folks still enjoy swimming competitively. These meets were so much fun!

June 24, 2017

PSL Sprint Meet

This meet was mainly for the kids, but they let the old folks swim for fun.

I swam the 50 Free, 50 Fly, and 100 IM.

My times were only about five seconds off my personal bests from when I was 15 years old. Not too shabby!

50 Free- 34.66

50 Fly-38.96

100 IM-1:26.23

October 14, 2017
Fairhope Oktobersplash Masters Meet
This meet was for master swimmers aka "old folks".
There were 90 year olds still swimming strong at this meet.
It was a blast!
I swam the 50 Free, 50 Back, 50 Breast, 50 Fly, and 100 IM.
50 Free- 33.65
50 Back-42.58
50 Breast-42.31
50 Fly-40.18
100 IM-1:27.09

I also started working towards a professional goal this fall: earning my Master's degree in School Psychometry. The blended program is offered through the University of Alabama. I should graduate in May 2019. It's been almost ten years since I finished my undergraduate degree. This first semester was a challenge with juggling assignments and teaching full time, but I made A's in both of my classes.

You can learn more about Bama by Distance programs here.

I wanted to run the Kaiser Coastal Half Marathon as a comeback race on my birthday in November. I wasn't consistent with my training this fall. A part of me wasn't motivated and a part of me was still adjusting to the demands of teaching at a new school and beginning grad school. Time slipped up on me and I never properly trained, so I let go of that goal. I haven't raced since June. I know I'm not as good as I once was and I fear that I may never be again. These negative thoughts consumed me for much of 2017, and I forgot why I love running. This brings me to my goals for 2018.

Goal #1. Run for fun! I'm not setting any time goals or mileage goals for running this year. A part of me got burnt out training for my third marathon and logging so many miles in 2016. I didn't realize just how tired I was until my knee injury forced me to take a break. I took running too seriously, always chasing the next PR or next mileage goal. I was disappointed when I didn't achieve those goals, and I lost sight of why I loved running in the first place. The time off this year has been good for me. Sometimes you don't realize how much you miss something until you take a much needed break. This year I'm going to fall back in love with running. I am going to run races with no fear of my finish time. I am ready to get back to running the local 5K's that I love, visiting with friends in the running community, and stuffing my dresser drawers with more t-shirts.

Goal #2. Run my comeback half marathon at the Publix Women's Half Marathon in Savannah, GA on April 7th. My dream "racecation" is already booked! I am so excited to be training again. I am following a 16 week beginner half marathon plan since I'm basically starting from scratch after months of inconsistency. I am only running three days a week using the run/walk method and cross training. I am hoping this minimal approach to training will keep me injury free.

Goal #3. Swim 100 miles. I am setting a mileage goal for swimming because I think I can easily achieve this number with some consistency. I started swimming in March 2017 and logged 79 miles over 10 months. I'm confident with a full year I can swim 100.

Goal #4. Continue to stay focused and do well in grad school. It's been an adjustment going back to school while teaching full time, but I know many people who are much busier than me that manage. Obviously teaching and grad school are priority over running and swimming, but I hope to better manage my time so I can still enjoy doing both.

Goal #5. Blog monthly. I haven't spent much time on my blog this year. I plan to post at least once a month with a monthly update or a recent race recap. I would like to participate in link ups with other bloggers, but only if I am able to devote the time to read and respond to other's posts as well. Link-ups go both ways, and interacting is what makes it fun.

Did you accomplish your goals for 2017? What goals are you working towards this year?