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3.30.2012

Diva Dash: Race Recap

Last weekend I ran the Diva Dash 5k in Kansas City, KS. It was a pretty nice day with approximately 50 degree weather and pretty strong winds. I was wearing pants, a short sleeved shirt and a long sleeved shirt. Once again, I was overdressed. I did not carry water. I finally got a chance to use my iFitness belt and my Chica Band!

Pre-race excitement
Mile 1: 7:00/mi
I made sure to try and get in the beginning of the pack. I knew this race was a run/walk and the last time I did one of these, I did not get in the front, and ended up having to pass a lot of the walkers, who for some reason were in the beginning of the pack. My first mile is always the fastest. I think the combination of trying to pass people and thinking that maybe I will slow down later gives me the energy to push it for the first 10 minutes, or whatever it takes. So the first few minutes were spent passing people and then the pace evened out a bit. I think at this point I had maybe 20 people in front of me.

Mile 2: 7:02/mi

I spent this mile trying to pass as many people as I could. I probably passed 6-8 girls in the 2nd mile. This course was variable with a few ups and downs and I noticed that I can usually pass people on hills, when they typically slow down. I guess that hill training pays off! I was pushing pretty hard and my legs were getting pretty tired, but I was pushed on my the fact that on the straight stretches I could see the front of the pack and they were not too far ahead of me. 

Mile 3: 7:03/mi

This mile was a little bit of a downhill and then pretty much a slow steady uphill to the end. At this point the wind was blowing right toward me, hard. I passed a few more girls and was neck in neck with a small girl in black. I passed her, but the wind was really taking the energy out of me. Then I noticed she was drafting me! I could see her in my shadow, trying to keep behind me to stay out of the wind. I swerved. I wasn't about to help her, not when I could still see the leaders just ahead of me. I couldn't tell at this time if there were 2 or 3 or 4 of them, but they were right there! 

Mile 3.1: 7:06/mi

The wind got me. The slight uphill got me. The girl behind me passed me. I crossed the line without an ounce of energy left. I felt like throwing up, but instead drank a bottle of water in one gulp and then had a banana.

Results:
Chip Time: 21:36
Garmin Time: 21:49 (7:02/mi) I always forget to stop it right away!
5/1130 overall
2/239 age group**

I won this. What the heck am I going to do with it?
 Notes: I really wish I would have pushed harder and not let that girl pass me at the very end. I think she was in my age group, so if I would have pushed a little harder, I could have placed first in my group. I probably should have worn less clothing because I was sweating pretty hard by the end. I am proud of myself though. **I placed, I got a new PR and I ran my fastest mile ever.

After that, I ran (slowly) back along the course, to meet my friend who was walking, so I could walk with her to the finish line. She finished in about 45 minutes which is a new PR for her as well! I am really glad she could join me; it's always nice to have a friend at any race! 
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Next up: Cherry Blossom 10 Mile in Washington DC this Sunday!! The weekend after that, I have my fourth 12 in 2012 race: The Grizzly Peak Trail Half in Berkeley!
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Don't forget to go over to Jill's and check out the other Fitness Friday posts! 

Have you ever ran a race with a friend? How do you feel about drafting? Have you perfected the race day outfit yet?

22 comments:

  1. Haha, that's an interesting age group award...congrats!

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  2. Wow! You are so fast!! If you run a race again the Midwest I would totally meet up with you and run a race with you! I'm not fast though! :p I've been averaging about 12-13 minutes. If I didn't have to stop to walk it would be 11 minutes. I can definitely tell when it's my third run of the week (like yesterday) because I'm really dragging. I'm really glad today is a rest day ;)

    Happy Friday! Congrats on your good race and fastest mile!

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  3. Nice job with a new PR and a smoking fast time! I hate being overdressed for a race of course I hate being under dressed too! Can be so hard to find the right balance sometimes.

    Congrats on being 2nd in your age group!!

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  4. Nice job! I love that award...I guess you can use at a Christmas ornament? Too funny!

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  5. That is an awesome time, Kyria! Congrats, you were flying! Especially with an incline at the end. 5k's are tough-- I also kill myself and cross with nothing left. At least they're over in 3 miles. :) And yay for placing!!

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  6. Awesome splits! Haaaaa I can't stop laughing at the prize!!! I use to have to fly to KS City 2 x a month for work...

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  7. Congrats on the great race!! I kind of like the sparkly shoe, but totally understand - what do you do with that.

    Good luck on Sunday.

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  8. Wow congrats on the new PR! That's awesome :)

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  9. You did great! I'm impressed:) I almost always have a friend to run my races with (or my husband). I don't think I have ever stayed with them through the race though. We always have different paces and I am too competitive to run slower. One half I ran/walked with my friend almost the entire time (I promised I would, to get her to run it) but by the last mile or so she gave me her blessing to run it without her. It killed me to go that slow. By the time I got to the finish, they were out of water bottles. Another reason to not go slow:)

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  10. Really nice race! You really picked your pace and stuck to it--that's a big asset in races. Good luck w/ CB--I love that race and I'm said I didn't register for it back in Dec!

    And yet--the iPod is fabulous for the dentist chair!!

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  11. Good grief you are so fast! Congrats on the PR and the 2nd place finish in your age group and your fastest mile!

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  12. I am usually a lone runner, I have the race day outfit down - for the most part. :)

    holy speed batgirl! awesome job! I would use that prize as a christmas ornament.

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  13. Great race recap! You're super fast!

    I have raced with a friend before and will be running with a friend this weekend for my marathon!

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  14. Oh my gosh, you are so fast. 5th overall? That is awesome! Way to go!!!!

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  15. I got so caught up by your time, I forgot to answer your questions. I have ran races w/ friends (including you), but have never finished a race with a friend! Which I am fine with as i like the ability to run my own race!

    I think drafting is rude. But it's not something I do/have experienced since I am not fast! ;)

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  16. Before reading everything I scrolled down just to check out your amazing pace per mile and finish. Wow! I can't even imagine.

    Love running races with friends! We don't usually run together the whole time but a start and finish is fun with friends. I'm working on perfecting the race day outfit now for my next half in a few weeks. I want a running skirt!

    Have a great weekend Kyria.

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  17. You are a speed demon! I'm thinking you could turn that into a Christmas tree or rearview mirror ornament. :)

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  18. you are super speedy! Great job!! :)

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  19. Great job and even splits :) Interesting award!

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  20. Great job!!

    And, I've raced with a friend a few times and had a blast doing it! Most of the time, it's just me and that's OK too.

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  21. That's a great race time! Congratulations!

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  22. I love how you ran the race in aviator glasses ... fashionista at the finish line! =)

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