My Instagram shot from after the race this morning.
I participated in a virtual 5 mile race this morning! Virtual race does not mean that you sit on your couch and think about running five miles. No ma’am. It means that you run your race on your own, or with your own friends, or, as in my case, with your own cross country team, and send in your results.
This little Labor Day weekend event was put together by Laura over at Mommy Run Fast. You can read all about it here, but, basically Laura put together a virtual 5 or 10 mile race to be completed between August 31 and September 4. We signed up ahead of time (I signed up for the 10 miler, but since I’ve not been increasing my mileage decided it would be much smarter to do the 5 mile race), she created a “bib” we could wear if we choose, and we submit our results when we’re done. You still have a couple days left to compete if you sign up now!
Our “bibs.”
Laura has also put together some great prizes (thanks to some awesome sponsors)! Fortunately the prizes will be drawn randomly (although she will announce the race winners). I’m not very lucky, but I’m not very fast either, and I think I have a better chance of winning with the drawing. And I think I’m earning an extra entry by writing this post!
Now, onto the race. It was a regular cross country practice day (our meets start next week so Saturday runs will be a thing of the past for a while). The original plan was a long, flat road run for the team. I thought that would be a perfect format for my virtual race, so I mentally got myself ready to rock and roll.
Before the race. 6:00 am, I’m ready to roll.
The team performing their karaoke drills. Let’s call them the “rabbits.”
Then, a plan change. My co-coach (also known as my husband) decided to have the team run up into the hills (fortunately not to the cross), which basically entails (for a five mile run) two miles uphill, 1/2 mile slightly downhill, turn around, then 1/2 mile slightly uphill then finish with two miles downhill. On the trails. I know a downhill finish sounds great, but as someone once said, “you never make up on the downhill what you lose on the uphill.” (I can’t find any attributes for that, so maybe I made it up.)
Penny doesn’t like to pose, she likes to run!
The coolest it’s been (at 6:45 am) for weeks.
So, off we went. I felt pretty good. I was running with Penny (not sure if that’s cheating, she’s faster than me but my feet still have to keep pace), and we kept a steady 10 minute per mile pace up the hill (great for me, I’m usually in the 11+ range up that 5-8% grade). At the two mile mark we turned and enjoyed a slight downhill for the next 1/2 mile. At one point I looked at my Garmin and I was running 7:44! Of course, I didn’t realize that my pace was because of the downhill until the turn around point (I just thought I was awesome). I sure could feel that uphill grade (probably only around 2-3%) on the way back.
I’m sure my #sweatpink shoelaces helped my pace!
Then, finally, the downhill. It is on trails, so I couldn’t go all-out, but I still made up some time. It was also starting to get hotter (it was about 87 when I finished), and I felt like Penny was getting a little tired. Still we kept up a good pace all the way to the finish. I finished my virtual race in 46:50, about a 9:22 pace. I’ll take that, especially considering the route and the trails.
#PROOF!
I had a great time and want to express my thanks to Laura for coordinating the race. If you want to see reports for the other participants, check out Laura’s blog and her facebook page. I had so much fun, I plan to do it all over again tomorrow. This time it will be a flat road route.
Recovery at Starbucks. Yeah, I know…
I hope you’ll check back tomorrow to see if I can improve on my time.
Have you ever run a virtual race?
I did this virtual 5 miles today too! And my route was hilly too. Great run!!!
Mindy @Road Runner Girl recently posted..Energy Bits Review and College Football!!!
I can’t wait to read your report!
Debbie recently posted..Sweaty Saturday: Virtual Race! 5 Miler!
What a great write up! I love that you got to run with your team and a buddy. Great pace, too! And thanks for sharing- yes, another entry for the post. Hope you win something!
Laura recently posted..Virtual Race Kick-off!
Thanks! It was fun. I’m looking forward to running tomorrow on a flat course, though without my “rabbits” I probably do as well.
Debbie recently posted..Sweaty Saturday: Virtual Race! 5 Miler!
Congrats! What a meanie, making you do hills on a virtual run day.
Have an awesome weekend, and make sure that next one is as flat as you want it to be! By the way, I’m loving that photo of your cross country team – they look like a fun, colourful bunch!
Kate recently posted..Lemon Party
I love my cross country team! And they were really colorful today, I even commented on that. Yeah, I’m planning a route tomorrow on the road that starts downhill, then stays flat after that.
Debbie recently posted..Sweaty Saturday: Virtual Race! 5 Miler!
good for you on this 5k! i think virtual 5ks are awesome!! little penny is such a pretty dog!! i think it’d be fun to run w a dog sometime!! happy wkend! spa love!
Thanks! Actually it was 5 miles, but it was still awesome. Penny says thank you, she is a great running partner. And she’s 11 years old!
Debbie recently posted..Sweaty Saturday: Virtual Race! 5 Miler!
Great time. Love the post race Starbucks! However, I really love the dog. She is too cute!
Abby @ BackAtSquareZero recently posted..The Good, The Bad, & The Ugly
Penny says thank you. As do I.
Debbie recently posted..Sweaty Sunday: Virtual Race, Day 2
great pace! i’ve thought about doing a virtual run, I see them posted from time to time, maybe I need to get on the bandwagon!!
i heart penny! I always think about getting a running dog, but it’s hard to find a good small breed runner. There are a few out there, I’ve got my eye out for at the rescues! most of the active small dogs are too “small dogish” for me. I’ll find my perfect match. Until then I’ll live thru your posts!
fizzgig recently posted..Food Addiction….
Virtual runs are preety cool. They ive some motovation and competition on your own time schedule (and for free!).
I sometimes run shorter distances with my little dogs (like 1-1.5 miles). They love it!
Debbie recently posted..Sweaty Sunday: Virtual Race, Day 2
I spy Asics?? I have a pair!
Great run! I thought I had it bad with the heat here…I think you have me beat!
Maria @ Lil Mys Ninja recently posted..Get Motivated Mondays: Labor Day Virtual Race
Yeah, my heat can pretty much beat anybody’s
I love Asics. I’ve been running in the forever. Actually since I first met my husband and he was running in Kayanos. I said I’d never spend that much on a pair of running shoes (about $120 back then). Within a year I was a convert. Great shoes.
Debbie recently posted..Weekend Reader: #Vegan Recipe Inspiration
You did so awesome! What do you mean you’re not fast??? I live in a hilly area and can definitely vouch for the fact that you don’t make up in the downhill what you lose on the uphill. Whoever said it – they’re right!
Laura recently posted..Ruby Tuesday: Nothing to report
I guess it’s all relative. I’m 10 yeats older and a few injuries beyond my fastest times, but I still remember the “good old days.”
Debbie recently posted..Weekend Reader: #Vegan Recipe Inspiration
Good job on your run!
Thank you!
Debbie recently posted..Wednesday Workout: Yoga Moves to Make You Stronger