Freaky 5k - Race Report



Its that time of year again...late fall.  I enjoy this time of year, the fall colors, the cool crisp temperatures, football, and generally our crazy hectic life slows down a bit.  It also means I get a break from my usual high volume, high intensity training.  It also means that its time for my two traditional races, The Freaky 5k and the Turkey Trot.  Each October, I try to participate in the YMCA of the Fox Cities' Freaky 5k.  Other than missing a few due to other obligations, I have pretty much done this race every year since I started really running competitively.  This year was my 7th year.  It was also the first year that Maya is registered to do her first ever 5k by herself!

Training for This Race

As usual and with most of the races this past year, I hadn't done any specific training leading up to this race.

Prerace

The weather leading up to race day had been actually quite warm, but that ended abruptly a few days before the race.  The weather for the race was chilly and wet, but the rain showers actually ended just before the sun came up.  We all got up and got the kids ready and loaded up the car and left only a few minutes after our predetermined time, which is actually really good for us.  Once there, I was able to get in a small warm up before the Mini-Monster Dash started at 8:00am, which is a kids run that takes place before the 5k.  Both Delaney and Harper did the race and each got their own medal which they loved.  I was then able to get in a better more thorough warm up just before the race started at 8:30.

Nutrition Plan

An hour before the race, I took my usual Anti-Fatigue Caps, Endurance Aminos, and then took my Fully Charged about 10 minutes before the start of the race.

Miles 0-3.1

As soon as the race started I knew I had a chance to win the race outright.   But did my best to just stick to my usual race strategy of maintaining a solid pace and allowing the "sprinters" to fade and at that point I try to figure what type of pace I'm going to have to hold.  The Freaky 5k is a challenging course as it starts with a downhill path down to the river and about a quarter to half mile section by the river before having to run back uphill.  This year, however, they changed the course slightly and forced you to run those hills twice.  So, knowing this, I tried to conserve my pace in the event I needed a bit of energy at the end.  After the first 800 meters or so, most of the "sprinters" had faded and I was just behind another guy, roughly my age.  I passed him just before having to go back up the initial part of the hills.  Although, I quickly passed him after getting back into the neighborhood section of the race.  I was able to hold him off and maintain a pretty even pace throughout the race.  I finished the race in 17:51, which I was happy with, considering the hills and my lack of training.  I took 1st overall, which is always a nice bonus.

Post Race

After I finished, I hung around the finish line to cheer on the initial wave of runners, but I had other obligations that I not only had to do, I was excited to do.  As I mentioned earlier, Maya was running her first ever full 5k by herself.  She was nervous, so she was walk/running the initial part with my mom who was pushing our other two kids in the stroller, while Sarah and my dad ran the race.  So, I started running the course backwards until I found Maya and my mom.  I ran back about a mile or so and found her.  We then got to run the final mile of the race together, which was awesome!   Maya was excited and had a good time finishing the race by herself.  She finished the race in 43:31, which is very good considering she walked about 2/3's of the race.  After all family members finished the race, we hung around for the awards ceremony and the costume contests, which is always entertaining.

What's on Tap

Up next is the Festival Food Turkey Trot, which is a 5 mile, highly competitive race on Thanksgiving morning.  I will probably just continue to run low mileage with a few longer days sprinkled in just to stay in some sort of running shape, but not really train.  Honestly, I am already looking to next year, as I usually do this time of year.  The way I have been going the past 4-5 years, is I usually have a big race season followed by a low volume, easy race season.  This year would qualify as a low volume easy race season.  So, we'll just have to wait and see what's in store for 2018!