Downs Freedom 5k
Downs, IL
Saturday, June 30, 2018//7:30am
-23:24 (7:32 pace per mile) (with stroller)
-21/102 overall
-5th Female out of 56
-1st in F 35-39 Age Group out of 10
(My 11th race of the 2018 season)
Recent race average paces, for reference:
6:58 per mile for 5k (Toluca 5k/June 9)
7:50 per mile for 15k (Steamboat Classic/June 16)
As everyone who was there knows - it was hot. Even if you weren’t there but are from "around here", you know - it was hot. Once again, for emphasis, IT WAS FREAKING HOT!
I had done this lovely small-town race for the 1st time last year. It was something that wasn’t ever on my radar prior to last year, however since our good friend Holly-Rae lives out in Downs it has been part of her world and therefore part or ours. Last year, I gave it a go and offered to pace Holly-Rae to a sub-22:00 5k. While I was nervous about the “pressure” of pacing, I was also excited about it - and it was awesome to bear witness to her smashing her goal! {Link to my report from last year, for old-time’s sake :) - https://runningmamaintraining.blogspot.com/2017/07/downs-freedom-5k-july-1-2017.html}
I really can’t believe it’s been a YEAR since then!!!
My time at the Downs Freedom 5k last year was 21:36. My time at my most recent 5k, the Toluca Double Diamond Dash 5k (3 weeks prior) was 21:40. The weather of race week/race day coupled with my current fitness level made me fully aware that I would not be getting a “course PR” and I knew I would have to fight to keep things as close to a 7-minute per mile pace as I could.
Race morning, Clint and Gabe and I headed out to Downs around 6:15 am. We registered and warmed up - though simply stepping foot outside the car resulted in a more-than-“warm” sensation. A bit before 7:30, we lined up in front of the school and waited for the starting signal. When the signal was given, I did my best to break from the line in a somewhat strong fashion. As I moved through the thick morning air, I knew this would be a LONG 5k. I did my best to find a pace that was close to 7, but I could tell things were going to be a battle. The heat was downright oppressive. I didn’t really go around comparing temperatures to other races I have done (because I am lazy I guess ;)…but I really feel like this was one of the hottest races I have ever done. Or, maybe I am just wimpier nowadays. Hard telling ;). Regardless - this was a challenge!!
In spite of the heat and humidity, I did enjoy the course of this race. It is, in my opinion, always fun to run a hometown 5k through neighborhoods where friendly people have sprinklers set up pointed at the road, water stations in their driveways, and kids and family members all out in their yards cheering for the crazy runners who pass. Love. This. Stuff.
Sometimes Gabe is more relaxed in the stroller than others, Today - he was feeling the heat. I had given him his favorite squirt bottle to “squirt people!” (a phrase he will utter over and over as he is THRILLED to spray people…ha!)…however this lost its appeal quickly for some reason. He begged for “batman phone” (in Gabe-speak this means, “I want to watch Batman videos on your phone, Mom!”) and I wasn’t about to deny him this “comfort” during this gross run. Frankly, I didn’t want to listen to him whine … resulting in my ears suffering along with the rest of my body…HAHA! So, I fumbled with my phone to fire up some YouTube videos and handed the phone down to him without really breaking stride (I’ve done this a time or two, as I am sure you can imagine).
Mile 1 was over in 7:13. Not exactly 7:00, but I will take it.
Somewhere in the second mile, I passed by a house with people wielding water guns lining the front yard by the street. They had recorded a someone’s voice that played the following on a hilarious loop, “We will spray below the waist, not in the face.” They had signs that asked runners to “Wave if you want to be sprayed!” I waved enthusiastically and was rewarded with some cold blasts of water. I contemplated sticking around for more refreshment, but soldiered on. Somewhere around the end of the second mile, Kaylee Eckhoff, our friend Mike’s daughter, passed us. I thought about pressing harder to try to stick with her but I knew that was likely a losing battle so I simply cheered her on as she went. Mile 2 wrapped up in 7:34….dropping fast. HA!
As I started in on mile 3, my pace took another hit. I knew there were no other girls close behind me and I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch anyone ahead of me. I decided to just enter survival mode. Breathing wasn’t exactly easy throughout this race and, seeing as I was pushing Gabe, I didn’t really need to go passing out - just not worth it for a variety of reasons! Every time the course turned and faced east, Gabe cried out a dramatic, “HOT, HOT! HOT, MAMA!” as the sun blasted him in the face - the stroller shade is large but doesn’t go quite low enough when the sun is rising and it was hitting him right in the eyes. He is inconsistent at best when it comes to keeping sunglasses on his face. Each time I heard his “HOT” cries, I told him that I would “Turn soon, Gabie!” So, he started requesting, “TURN, mama! Turn NOW!” Poor kid ;). I did my best to run as hard as I could through those little sunny stretches…but, of course, I felt like I was running through Jell-o. Mile 3 was over in 7:46…”hey," I told myself, "at least you managed to stay under 8’s!”
Somehow I managed to dig deep and find “something” left in the tank and I closed out the final 0.12 by my watch in a 7:18 pace. Holly-Rae - way to go with a super-accurate course!
I crossed the finish line in 23:24. This is not a time that I would typically be happy with but I was truly happy to finish this race on two feet! I was happy to earn 1st out of 10 in my age group and surprised to get 5th overall female out of 56. I won’t lie - it is kind if mentally disappointing to see times that are a few minutes slower than what you are capable of, but I also know that this was a very hard day (for all of the racers!!) and I know I did still put forth a strong effort in spite of the time I earned. Shout out to HR + Team for the fun age group award dog tags!
After the awards ceremony, the kids run was up. Gabe really had limited interest in this…but his mean mom forced him to participate. This resulted in me carrying him for most of the yardage. Oh well…there’s always next time. HAHA!!!
Looking forward to another PARTY IN DOWNS {THE USA} next June! Please, though, someone order up some cooler weather please! THANKS!!!
Next up - Park 2 Park and then the Dog Days 5k, rounding out my second year of doing 3 races in 8 days! THANKS to our fearless leader Mitch, the Often Running Racing Team, Saucony (I sported my brand-new second pair of the amazing Liberties during this race!), Coach Clint, and RD HR! This was another fun day and I am thankful to have each of you in my corner! I’m looking head to BIX (!!!!) and Evergreen Lake 5k…and then some different fall goals!
PICS from race day:
This first one really cracks me up - HR sent me this, taken by the starting line…I am all “UGH GET ME OUTTA HERE!"
My main men!
I don't even know...
Smiles at the beginning of the kids run...
