Login
Reston Area Triathletes RATS.net Logo

Race Result

Racer: Amanda Shuman
Race: St. Leo's 5k
Date: Saturday, October 2, 2004
Location: Fairfax, VA
Race Type: Run - 5 km
Age Group: Female 20 - 24
Time: 0:23:40
Age Group Place: 1
Comment: Despite the hills, 2nd female overall, woo!



Race Report:



Pre-race
Had a very long week at work culminating in a Friday, all-day training to get a cycling certification in Baltimore. Exhausted as I went to bed on Friday night. Woke up still exhausted despite 7-8 hrs of solid sleep. Decided to have gel for breakfast since I was already running late (yes, it was a bad idea, see post-race description).

Got to the race late because my dad wasn't ready to leave when I was, waited around for him for 10+ minutes. Normally, I wouldn't complain, but with all this long-distance marathon training I'm doing I know how well I need to warm up for a 5k (at last 20-25 minutes, which, incidentally, I didn't get).

Race
Informal start by my least favorite state senator (I won't give any names :) ). Only ta few girls passed me. I passed all except the leader. I had no idea I was the second female until about 2.5 miles into it someone yelled "yay! the second lady!" in which I sped up. Too late at 2.5 miles, of course!!

Passed a bunch of huffing and puffing men and some guy right before the finish, I just sprinted right by him. Although I always end by sprinting, without the proper warm up these hills just killed me.

Post race
Trying to walk off nausea didn't work this time. Threw up all the gel on the side. Throwing up the gel was probably the best thing I did all day because right after doing so I felt like a 10000000000000000 times better. I even went and grabbed something to drink and started cheering people on while doing so.

Overall
Got 2nd place female/ won age group 20-29 despite slow-er time than normal. (I'm blaming my time on either a long course or the hills or combined.) Got a restaurant gift certificate which was pretty cool. Also, my dad ran the race and won his age group (50-59; 25 minutes), which made everything more fun.

However, the best was that I started the race with and ended by cheering on one of the girls I'm coaching in the Girls on the Run program. She's 11 and ran the 5k in 26 minutes. She's gonna kick my sorry a** in the next few years, which made me feel kind of pathetic. Especially since when I was 11 I was more concerned with my neon socks matching my clothes and what time the fresh prince/saved by the bell came on after school.

~Amanda