Partners for Life Police Appreciation Run 5K, St. Petersburg, Florida, May 5, 2013: race recap

This is the 5K of a 10K-5K challenge. Read about the 10K here.

Because I had this fabulous idea to sign up for a 10K-5K challenge, I had about 20 minutes after the 10K before the start of the 5K, which started at 8:30 a.m. ... or so I thought.

In-between races photo

In reality, it was 8:52 a.m. before the start of the 5K. So my timed water drinking, GU taking and stretching and warming up again wasn't really timed well. I wasn't expecting much out of this race anyway (since I just ran a 10K and was uncomfortable every step), but a 22-minute late start didn't help matters any.

I wasn't planning on meeting my under 30-minute 5K goal this race, but I wanted to be respectable ... whatever that means. For me, I decided it meant under 11-minute miles.

I started out a little stiff, but warmed up pretty quickly (quicker than my usual 1+-mile warm up).  That doesn't mean I was comfortable or feeling good. I was hoping I could make it through this thing. I wasn't feeling it, and I was missing my running buddy to push me along.
'
Mile 1: 10:29

I don't remember much of this race, really. I just remember: (1) running on the pesky pier ... again; (2) being uncomfortable the entire race; and (3) trying to force a smile when I ran by my coach, Carolyn, who was snapping pictures (all were terrible; totally my fault — not hers).

You pesky, windy pier

Mile 2: 10:40
Mile 3: 10: 38

I tried to push it at the finish, but I didn't have much left in me.

I looked tired in this photo. I am. (My boyfriend and dog surprised
me along the 5K finish.)

I crossed the finish line at 32:59, which is my second-best 5K time ever. Hmm, I guess I did OK for feeling uncomfortable and totally not in this race.

After the race, I grabbed some bubbles (Diet Coke). I love carbonation after a race. Every race should have bubbles of some kind (yes, beer is acceptable).

Lori and I decided to capture our last race on the pier in photo (it is being torn down, so this is the last official race for us on this thing). Lori asked the girl taking the photo to be sure to get the pier in the background. She did. It's just behind Lori's head ... 

So, the big question: would I do a 10K-5K challenge again? I am proud that I did it this time, but I don't think I'd do it again. It added a whole other level of stress to a race day. I worried about the 5K all the way through the 10K. Was I using everything I had in the 10K? How was I going to run a 5K after this disaster? Then, running the 5K, I felt like it was a "just survive this thing" mode instead of a "let's give this all I got" attitude.

Have you run a 10K-5K challenge? Would you? Do you like bubbles after a race?

A week in Florence

I’m back from a week in Florence … South Carolina. It really is less exotic than it sounds.

It wasn’t a vacation, but it wasn’t because I wasn’t in a vacation spot. It was because I was working … OK, and it isn’t a vacation spot. It really isn’t.

Why the heck was I there? Good question. I keep asking myself that. My boyfriend is there doing contract work. So, I drove up to South Carolina with him (with a stop in St. Augustine, FL) to spend a week there before driving back home (with another stop in St. Augustine).

Somehow I started watching “Ghost Adventures,” and I kind of fell in love with the idea of hunting ghosts (not with tight T-shirts and cheesy spiked hair, thank goodness). So, we did a ghost tour each time we were in St. Augustine. Amazingly enough, a ghost was spotted.

Perhaps it's time to try some bronzer.

My official ghost hunting tool was reacting like crazy, trust me.

But, the coolest thing about St. Augustine.

Beachfront Avenue!

I could not stop singing “Ice, Ice Baby” for two weekends. I know my boyfriend appreciated it.

Speaking of music and the boyfriend, that is one of the really terrible things about road trips with him. We do not agree on any music. Well, except for Elvis Presley, Michael Jackson, Prince, Nirvana and the White Stripes. That’s it. No beautiful Bruno Mars, boy bands or ‘90s rap. Or if the beautiful music is involved, lots of complaining follows. Sigh.

In happier times (not in the car listening to music)

Thankfully, I’m not going to the Bruno Mars concert with him.

Speaking of Bruno, how adorable is this? 

I had no idea he was in “Honeymoon in Vegas” until last week. I am now certain he is my favorite singer, and we have so much in common. 

Theresa and I are just like Bruno.

Well, aside from the fact that he’s 5’5”, and I’m 5’10”. And many other things, really. But, we both wear Elvis suits and that counts for something.

Now that I’m back in town, and it’s confirmed that Bruno and I are best friends, it’s time to focus on a race this weekend.

Yes, a race. In May. In Florida.

I’m wondering why I decided to do this.

It’s a 10K-5K challenge. I’ve done anything like this, and I’m guessing it’s a good thing I decided to do it in May.

So, I run a 10K, and then I line up and run a 5K. It sounded like a good idea at the time. Now, I’m a little worried. Heat makes me nervous. So I definitely won’t be running it in an Elvis suit (those things are super hot; ask Bruno).

Have you visited Florence, South Carolina? St. Augustine, Florida? Have you worn an Elvis suit? Have you ever run a 10K-5K challenge? Do you like running in the heat?