Firecracker 5k

Dad, Thomas, and I all decided to run the Firecracker 5k on July 4th. Mom signed us up and came to cheer us on. I had only done 3 speed workouts before race day so I wasn't really sure what to expect. My Garmin predicted a 20:49 5k and I knew that definitely wasn't happening. Thomas called to tell me his goals were to break 22 and not get injured and I thought those were great goals and that's what I would shoot for as well. The race started at 7:30. I got up at 6:15 so I'd have time for yoga and a warm up. I ran from my parents' house to the race, picked up my packet, ran a little more, and took one last restroom break. As we were walking over to the start, dad decided to go back to the car to get more KT tape for his leg. Thomas and I were laughing that he ends up making it to the start of this race late every year. Dad walked up right as the lady was giving us some last minute instructions. I turned to congratulate him on making it to the start in time and Thomas got my attention right as she shot the starting gun. Most people got off to a bad start because she said, "The race starts at 7:30," and then immediately shot the gun. I got off to a really bad start and could not get my legs going in the grass. I told myself to do the best I could and I could pick the pace up when we merged onto the cart path later in the race. 

There were 2 girls out ahead of me from the start. When we turned onto the cart path and were running uphill I passed the girl closest to me. I had Thomas ahead of me by a bit and then there was the girl and a couple guys running together ahead of him. I went through the first mile in 7:05 and I was shooting for 7:00 pace, but told myself that was okay, I could make up some time in the 2nd half of the race. I went through the first loop in 10:29 and was excited I was on pace for a low 21 minute 5k. Then as we turned past the finish and were running toward where we started I realized the 2nd loop is actually longer, so the end of the first loop wasn't the halfway point. I didn't pay attention to the distance when I checked, I just looked at my time. I knew I needed to pick it up and felt like I was, but my 2nd mile was 7:11. I felt a little discouraged by that and started pushing the pace for the last mile. I looked down at 2.5 miles and saw my lap pace was 7:30 so I knew I really needed to grind into another gear. I must have run the last half mile of my 3rd mile pretty fast because I ran that mile in 7:06. I looked at the finishing clock as I turned the corner toward the finish and was disappointed to see the clock already at 22 minutes. My finishing kick was 6:57 pace and my time was 22:27. Thomas finished in 21:47 so if I could've run with him, I would've gotten that sub-22. I didn't mind too much because I thought of this race as just a little check in to see where I'm starting off with this 5k training block. I'm targeting an August 5k with this short, speedy training cycle so I have plenty of time to get faster. Dad finished in 27:06. They wrote down bib numbers and times, but didn't have names to go with bib numbers for a lot of people so they didn't do awards. I was 2nd overall female and that's all we know for results.

Running to the finish with dad.

After the race I mentioned to dad that I've been wondering if KT tape would do me any good. I keep thinking if I could just relieve some of the pressure in my calf, it would help my achilles tendonosis and bone spurs. Seeing him wear KT tape for this race reminded me and I'm so glad I asked him about it. He taped me up later in the week for my speed workout on Sunday and it was the best I've felt doing speed work since before my Houston Marathon training cycle in January of 2023! Since then I've had KT tape on my leg for all of my runs and I feel like a different woman. It has been such a relief to finally run without so much pain. Now that I've been reminded what running can feel like, I do think surgery will eventually be worth the long recovery, to have running be so much fun again. It had gotten to where I didn't really enjoy my runs while doing them, I just liked how I felt after I got home (minus the pain that was always present after runs). I'm running another 5k this weekend and I'm excited to see if the KT tape helps my performance along with making me feel better on runs. I'm okay with it just making my runs feel a lot better, but I'm hopeful running without pain will also allow me to run a bit faster. I know the pain in my left ankle, heel, and foot has changed my gait and causes my stride to be shorter and look like more of a shuffle from videos I've seen of myself running. It will be a bit hard to compare times from this race to the one this weekend because the Firecracker 5k is about half on grass and half on a cart path while the race this weekend is all paved, but we will see what happens! I'm excited to test it out!

Firecracker 5k Results:

2024- 22:27

2023- 22:45

2019- 20:35 (different course, all paved and measured short)

2018- 21:29

2017- 21:08 (paved course)

2016- 21:12

2015- 23:21

2014- 22:16

2013- 22:50