Do as I say not as I do--The 5k that was
Why you may wonder? Well, because my 5K on Sunday was TERRIBLE! I think I came out of that race with 41 minutes or some crap like that. It's absolutely ridiculous!
You saw my improvement in time remember? So how in God's name did I go from a 36 mins to 41 mins, especially when my goal is to sub 30 this year?Â
Here is what "I say":
1. Do NOT and I repeat do NOT drink any form of alcohol 3-4 days before the event. (I drank wine)
2. Please, please, please, hydrate yourselves. Drink tons of water the week before leading right up to the event and continue the hydration past the event. (The levels of dehydration my body experienced was unreal)
3. Warm up properly. (HA! I didn't know what this looked like on race day)
4. If you live in a sunny country (like me) PLEASE prepare for ridiculous amounts of sun (I don't even know why I wasn't prepared...I literally am drawing a blank here....smh...I was dying)
5. Get a good night's sleep if possible do NOT go out the night before. (I went out and subsequently went to bed late....)
6. Come early on race day to secure your space at the front with the real runners, or else pacing will be a problem. (I came late, I tried to wait out the crowd but failed. There were TWENTY THREE THOUSAND people there....every time I got a good pace going I had to slow down because someone in front of me was walking.)
This is not my first rodeo. I have run so many 5K's before you would think that I would know to do better right? This just goes to show you that no matter how many times you have completed some action, you still need to go back to basics and review your strategy in each situation. The variables always change.
It was one of the worst 5k experiences I've had in awhile. Of course we must lay the blame where it is due....my damn doorstep....I realise I couldn't help the crowd, however if I had gotten up early perhaps.....?
Anyhoo, we will not play the what if game. I wanted to share this experience with you because, it's apart of my process, my journey to get where I want and as annoyed as I was (and still am) I will not dwell on the mistakes I made. I want that sub 30, so I'm going to go after it like nobody's business. Let my mistakes be a lesson to you. I hope I take my own advice, wouldn't that be wonderful? :)
Those are my take home points for you this week. Have any 5k stories you want to share? Any advice you want to give? I'm all ears! Hit us with an ask!
Lizzie :)
