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Race Result
| Racer: |
Jamie Roberson |
| Race: |
Herndon Turkey Trot |
| Date: |
Saturday, November 19, 2005 |
| Location: |
Herndon, VA |
| Race Type: |
Run - 5 km |
| Age Group: |
Female 40 - 44 |
| Time: |
0:45:02 |
| Overall Place: |
599 / 629 |
| Age Group Place: |
46 / 50 |
| Comment: |
PR on a Cross-Country Style Course |
Race Report:
I thought that I had a terrific excuse not to do a Turkey Trot, as suggested/prodded by Coach Debi, since I had plans to spend Thanksgiving with my Dad in rural Louisiana. But Emma burst that bubble a couple of weeks ago when she suggested that a group of us from Reston Sport & Health run the Herndon Turkey Trot, a 5k run mostly on a golf course that looked like fun (as long as the weather held up). “OK,” I told her. “I’m in.”
The weather was nice for a rare 4 p.m. start time – not too cold, clear skies, dry surfaces. Though my short-term goal is to run a 5k in under :42, Emma warned me that it was not a course that led to PR’s – up-and-down hills, soft surfaces, lots of kiddies in the way. So I let go of the PR dream and decided to have some fun.
I let lots of runners go by at the start and did not cross the start line until maybe 15 seconds into the race. I got into a rhythm and took walk breaks every eight minutes. My heart rate was way up, though, so I tried to slow it down. I was shocked, then, when the one-mile clock read 13:38. Wow! I decided to push it a bit more and give it everything I had. About a mile from the end, Emma doubled back from the finish and ran to the end with me. I was really winded and couldn’t speak, but found a kick about 100 yards to the end.
Imagine my surprise, then, when I saw the clock ticking :44-something. Tempted by the possibility of a PR, I ran as fast as I possibly could without my head exploding. I crossed the finish line with a clock time of :45:02, a personal record!
If I hadn’t been so run-stupified at the end (average heart rate was 171), I would have stopped my watch and gotten my “real” time, which was a bit faster, given my delay in crossing the start (no chip timing here – it was a turkey trot, fer cryin’ outside). Even then, I’ll take it. I did the Snoopy Dance the rest of the weekend.
Note: about five yards from the finish, I thought I heard someone yelling near me, but I couldn’t hear what it was. Emma told me that it was a runner pointing and exclaiming, “SHE’S THE ONE FROM THE DVD!!” I’m still chuckling about that one.
Another note: this also marked the first time that I did not finish last in my age group.
There is so much to be thankful for. I’m a happee girl.
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