Last Sunday Rob and I ran in the Pikesville 5k for the third time in four years. I should have written this immediately after the race, so unfortunately I feel like I have already forgotten details about this race. Instead of play-by-play race recap, I am just going to share a bunch of key points about how this race went for me- because really, it was just another 5k….
1. The weather was actually pretty decent for July! As Rob and I ran a 2 mile warm up around 7am it was great running weather. However, by the time the race started at 8am the sun was pretty strong so it did get hot. But not nearly as bad as it could have been.
2. I took a Hammergel before the race and it gave me a stomachache. I haven’t used any gels besides Powerbar Performance Energy Gels in close to a year, and I have a feeling this one may have been expired. I don’t know if they technically expire but it had no flavor to it. And then my stomach started hurting, 5 minutes before the race started. 
3. Around mile 1.75 I found myself running alongside about 3 other female runners. We all kind of stuck together, all very tired, occasionally passing one another. One runner (let’s call her “Runner A”) was leading the group but kept stopping to walk, and would then catch up with us again.
4. At mile 2.5 I started to gain some momentum and passed runners B and C. Runner A was still ahead of me, and had a fairly large lead. The last .1 is downhill which I knew (I’ve done this race twice before) so I gave it my all and managed to pass her during the last 100 meters or so.
5. I ended up getting 2nd female. Runner A got 3rd female, and both Runners B and C got first in their age groups. This helped to remove a bit of my guilt about the whole situation. I mean, it was supposed to be a fun race for a good cause, so I didn’t want to seem super competitive!
6. I was really focused on passing Runner A, and had no idea how close I was to a PR. My chip time was recorded as 21:40, and my PR is 21:38. However, my Garmin read 21:43 so I must have stopped it late.
7. Can you believe how close our times are?
8. I won a $100 gift card to a restaurant! This was an awesome prize, although I have never heard of the restaurant (any Baltimore people familiar with Linwoods in Owings Mills?). The first place winners actually won $100 in cash, and the third place winner won $50 in cash! So hopefully we like the restaurant, or I may regret passing Runner A at the last minute😃
9. I was really happy with my recovery from this race. I felt great all day following the race, and was just a little sore on Monday.
10. This was my third time running the course, so it’s important to look at progress!
I also need to remind myself that in May I ran a 22:27, in June I ran a 22:15, and then I just ran a 21:40. So I’m just now getting back in that PR range. Although I’m not sure if I will be doing another 5k any time soon!
Are there any races you have done more than once and compare your times?
Do you think Hammergels expire? Ever eaten an old one?
How do you feel about passing people in small, local, fun races?
I’m linking up with Jill for Fitness Friday!
You did amazing! I have been in races where towards the end I am running with a few other people at basically same pace, it definitely pushed me to go faster even though I recall wanted to die because of it lol. I won a gift card at a long beach race almost two years ago and I never used it! Thanks for the reminder, I wonder if it expired yet.
Racing next to others can definitely help push you a bit! That would be a nice surprise if you are still able to use that gift card:)
I there out old hammer gels and now I’m glad I did, they do have a date on them and didn’t want to chance it! Amazing race for you again! I don’t know how you can run so fast in summer. I’d drop at mile 2 I think.
Funny you mention the competitive think with a charity race, because I won first female at a very non competitive 5k years ago and Adam made me feel bad for being excited! Too funny!
For us it was the other way around- Rob is so competitive and thinks its totally normal to try to win no matter what, where as I felt guilty about passing someone and placing before them!
I definitely need to get rid of all our old Hammer gels!
Congrats on the AG award! Not bad for starting off with a stomach ache!
Thanks! Luckily I didn’t notice the stomach ache after the first mile because everything else hurt so bad:)
CONGRATS!!!! Wow, what a photo finish between you and runner A. You did amazing especially since you had a stomachache from the hammergel and even if the weather was good for July, it was still July weather!!! Way to go!
Thanks so much! All things considered I was definitely happy with how this went!
Congratulations! LOL on maybe liking the 3rd place prize better, but think it’s a good restaurant.
I felt bad to think that, since I really am honored to have won anything! I’m excited to see how this restaurant is. At least it will get us to try something new!
Look at that progress! You’re getting so fast and strong! Congrats on the AG 2nd place! I used to use Hammer gels back when I started distance running and sometimes they just did not get along with my stomach, especially certain flavors. I get too competitive at local races and spent the last 1/2 mile of my first half in a passing battle with a few guys, one of whom turned out to be a friend of Ryan’s and a blog reader.
I am typically not too competitive but it does push me a little when I am racing with others who are running about the same speed! Funny that you ended up racing a friend/blog reader:)
I know gels have dates printed on them but I can’t really do gels anyway. I’ve tried, but chews are much easier for me to use.
I actually have a hard time chewing while I run! That’s why I prefer the gels. But I definitely need to look into the dates on the ones I have!
Congrats, Lisa! That would be neat if they photographed your finish! I like comparing race times from race to race (especially if they kept the same course). It is really nice to see improvement.
I hope they got some good pics! They did have cameras there, but haven’t posted anything yet. Its definitely nice to be able to see improvement and progress!
I run a half marathon every June and I always compare my times. I think it’s interesting to look back and see how my times have either improved, or how much the weather conditions affected my performance . I love the feel that small, local races give off. It’s so much fun to run in a small community. And plus, post race treats are usually the best : )
I love comparing races in that way. And small, local races and probably my favorite kind.
I don’t think you should feel guilty at all for passing Runner A you did awesome and should be proud! I’m not a very competitive person but it always is a good feeling to pass people instead of being the one getting passed!
Thanks so much! I was happy that I was able to give that final push at the end, and it was definitely better than getting passed. I think for me it was more of a personal thing of trying to do well than trying to do better than anyone else.
I love that you beat that lady out by less than a second and won a $100 gift card!!! BAHAHAHA! Love it. That’s so awesome. And yes, gels expire. I used to work at a running store and we had to be on top of getting rid of the old gels. 🙁
Good to know! I need to make sure I get rid of all my old ones.
Wow awesome job!! That is an amazing time, plus that prize is pretty darn cool too!
Thanks! I was pretty excited about it!
I say go ahead and pass people! Even thought it is small/local/fun… it’s a race! That is so exciting that your times are steadily improving and you are right at your PR range right now. Since you said you aren’t doing a 5k anytime soon, maybe you can come back in a couple months and get a PR!
Yea I figure if nothing else I was racing against myself and I wanted to give it everything I had! Maybe I will be more likely to PR in the fall/winter when its not as hot.
Eeeew, old gels just do not sound good, Lisa; I try not to keep mine around for too long; I wonder if there is a date on the box? I’ve never really thought about this, until you mentioned it – ha! I run a lot of the same local races each year, due to our Grand Prix series where we compete against other running clubs; I definitely go back and look at previous results! I think it’s a great way for me to set goals and figure out where I should aim to be during the race. Great job, girl! Woo hoo! Hope you have a great weekend!
I am definitely going to be conscious of throwing away old gels! I don’t want to make that mistake again!
Enjoy your weekend!
That sounds like a GREAT prize! Enjoy your meal out 🙂
Thanks so much!
Congrats on a great race! I almost ran this one this year. I’ve only ever heard great things about it and so cool to see your progress over the past three years!
You should do it next year! I’m sure I will be back unless something comes up!
wow, you have an great 5K time! that inspires me to work harder at mine. Congrats about the $100 GC – enjoy your well deserved meal!
Thanks so much!
That’s a great progression of time from year to year! Awesome job! There are a few races I’ve been able to compare my time for but it’s not always a perfect progression like yours. Hope you like the restaurant!
Usually mine are not a perfect progression either! I was surprised how nicely this looks because its there have definitely been plenty of setbacks between all those races!
Congrats on getting back to PR territory! I feel a little silly passing people in small, local races – especially because I have a couple local races that I do every year now. But hey, it’s about getting a better personal time, right? Passing someone might be the motivation I need to get a new PR. Ok, sometimes it’s just about beating someone… = )
Exactly! It did give me the push I needed to run the best race I could that day.
You did amazing! Great job!! Congrats on getting 2nd!
Thanks so much!
Even if it is just small and local, it’s still a race! lol Being competitive is part of the fun!
Good point! Not sure why it just felt weird!
Congrats! I hope you enjoy your gift certificate! That is a great prize. I wouldn’t feel bad for passing…it is a race!
Thanks! And you’re right…not sure why it felt weird!
Congratulations on your age award. So exciting! Guess it didn’t matter if the hammer gel expired bc you did awesome anyways. Not sure about them, but I know that GUs do bc they have exp dates on the back of them. Hope u recover well:)
Thanks so much! Others have said the Hammergels do expire, so I will need to make sure I get rid of my old ones.
Wow. That’s an amazing progression! You did great and you’re sooo close to a PR. I know what you mean about being competitive in smaller races, it’s an awesome feeling to feel powerful and strong, but also kind of a weird feeling at the same time when passing someone haha I can’t explain why but I get it, especially if it’s towards the end it can feel kind of awkward or something ha. I figure we all want the awards though so why not:)
It does feel weird, but it shouldn’t! You’re right that we all want the award so might as well try our best.
Great Race! Definitely see the benefits of running a race course more than once. I’m hoping for a course PR at Beach2Beacon 10k in Maine, August 1st. It will be my 4th time running this race/course! The familiarity with the course helps a runner strategize and pace appropriately!
I think it can be so helpful to be familiar with a course! I hope you get that PR!
This is so great!! Especially when you look at the same race over the years 🙂
Its definitely a great way to measure progress!
Congrats on the AG award! That’s a great progression of time. 😀 Small, local races and probably my favorite kind.
Thanks so much!