Chasing time: my 5k PR and my marathon dream
I’ve been preparing for a 5K race for quite some time. After taking a break from marathon running and focusing on HYROX training, I wanted to challenge myself with a shorter race distance. The 5K is such a unique and challenging race; it feels like sprinting straight into the fire and not stopping until it’s over. My goal was to achieve a low 18-minute finish or even break the 18-minute barrier. Based on my treadmill thresholds and track workouts, I felt confident that I was fit enough to hit that time.
The day before the race, my running coach advised a full rest day, which was unusual for me but necessary. I spent the day relaxing, checking in with athletes, and programming workouts. I went to bed early, around 9 PM, and fell asleep easily—something that wasn’t always the case before races. I used to struggle with pre-race anxiety, but now, it doesn’t phase me.
On race day, I woke up at 6 AM, had my morning coffee, and added Tailwind Nutrition to my water bottle. My pre-race breakfast was plain yogurt with strawberries and another cup of coffee. The 5K race was an hour’s drive away and was scheduled to start at 9 AM. I aimed to arrive about 45 minutes early, which I find ideal for a good warm-up.
I didn’t realize this 5K was a point-to-point course. We were bussed to the starting line, meaning my husband, who usually takes photos and videos, couldn’t be there. As we drove the course, I mentally mapped it out, noting the uphill sections. The first mile had a steep downhill, which worried me—I didn’t want to start too fast and burn out before the finish.
After we got off the bus, I did a half-mile jog to warm up and completed several strides. I love local 5K races; it’s always fun to see kids lined up at the start, ready to give it their all. I stayed calm and reminded myself to let gravity do its job on the downhill.
When the gun went off, the kids sprinted down the hill, and I kept my pace steady, knowing I’d pass them soon. I clocked a 5:28 for the first mile, which I knew was too fast, but with the downhill, it was expected. My strategy was to maintain a sub-6-minute pace for mile two and hang on for the final mile. That’s the essence of a 5K race—enduring the pain and pushing through.
By mile one and a half, things started to hurt, and by the final mile, I was grunting with every step, telling myself to relax. The uphill sections felt like mountains, even though they weren’t. With a quarter mile to go, I checked my watch and saw a chance to set a new personal record (PR). I started counting down in my head but didn’t realize there was a sharp turn into the finish line. My watch showed a moving time of 18:34, but the overall time was 18:39. I didn’t stop my watch immediately and didn’t see the finish line clock, so I had to wait for the official results.
When the results came in, I had PR’d by 1 second—18:34! I also won first place in the female overall category, but this race was more about competing with myself. Although I was a little disappointed, I reminded myself that two years ago, I never imagined running an 18-minute 5K, so it’s hard to be too disappointed.
At 44, I sometimes worry that my fastest days might be behind me, and that thought makes me emotional. I’m not ready for it to be over; I love chasing new PRs. Today’s race really made me miss the marathon. I’ve been chasing a sub-3-hour marathon for five years, and the fear of never achieving it has been haunting me. But after speaking with a fellow runner who had his own dreams of qualifying for the Olympic marathon trials, I realized that I’m not alone in this journey. He missed his qualifying time by a few minutes and eventually had to let go of that dream. He was 55, and his story comforted me. I sometimes feel isolated in my quest, but hearing his experience reassured me that the journey itself is worthwhile. Before he left, he said, “I hope you get that sub-3.” Man, I hope so too.