Aurora Labor Day 5k Race Report

Monday morning I decided to take advantage of the holiday and get in another race despite waking up and wanting to stay in bed.

The Aurora Labor Day 5k is a small little race run in Aurora Ohio at Sunny Lake Park. The park has a nice 1.75 mile loop which the course is run on. They have a 1 mile and a 5k and since it was only $2 more to do both races I decided on arrival that I would do the one mile as my time trial before doing the 5k. The race was mostly for kids so I felt somewhat guilty lining up for it but also knew it was an easy way to get in my time trial and then I could get it over with. So I decided to do the race and just not let them take my bib so I wouldn't count in the results. All I wanted was to know how fast I could run 1 mile :)

The one mile was an out and back so one hairpin turn which isn't so easy as you get older :) I lined up on the outside in the grass so I wouldn't get in any ones way and took off and pulled ahead with one other young gentleman. I wasn't really sure how a mile effort should feel so I just ran hard :) The kid fell back from me just before the turn around and I encouraged him to stay with me. He picked it up and got around the hairpin turn much more efficiently than me. I looked at my watch and saw 2:53. Leave it to me to try and do math while running I had no clue what that meant pace wise. On the way back I cheered on a few of the young girls and tried to stay as close to the kid in front of me. I came across in 5:47 and was pretty happy with that. I would have liked to have run 5:35-5:40 but considering the hairpin turn and the fact that I had run 17 miles the day before I think I am calling it close enough!

Moving onward I needed to do a quick "cool down" before the 5k which started 30 minutes after the one mile. I went out to get ready and saw runners already walking over to the start. Freaking out I headed back to my car to put back on my trainers and get to the start, only to wait because everyone had headed over too early.

We finally started the 5k and I tried to stay with Greg but I just had no oomph left in my legs after the 1 mile. I was content to hold onto 1st place and just stay as consistent as I could. Since the loop is 1.75 miles we do it almost twice, starting and ending in a different location. The path is winding and there is on small hill. No place to really get into a groove, but not a slow course by any means. First mile was 6:22. I realized I wasn't going to break any records but upped the effort as I didn't want to go over 20. The second mile I struggled to pass a small group of guys. I was gaining on them but once they realized I was a female they all upped their effort and boxed me out. I just tried to push the pace so that I wouldn't fall into their slower pace, if they wanted to stay ahead of me I wanted them to have to push to do it. Second mile was 6:16. The last mile like the first had the small hill in it and I have proven not to be exceptional on hills this year. Between that and having raced a mile before the 5k I just couldn't turn it on and came through the third mile in 6:30 although I did drop most of the guys who were with me. I did find enough in me to push hard to the finish and actually go under 38 this time in 32 seconds for a 19:40.

Neither result was quite what I hoped for but I had fun racing and pushing my limits a bit. My knee was a bit ragged but it survived and I took home the overall female win. My friend Barb took second female and the SERC guys who were there placed first and second male so it was a good day for the club!

Next up Punxsy 50K Report!