[I'm never sure where best to post these days so I've written this in the marathon group as well as here in the 10k club. Hope that's ok]
So after @roseabi shared about the Fly5k events the other week, I signed up. Yesterday was my first race.
Officially you're supposed to run between 8am and 12noon but childcare meant this was a challenge so I was up early and set out at 7am. I checked, and this is allowed. 👍
Although a bit cold, the weather was perfect. The sun was just rising and the sky was beautiful. I was a bit nervous it could be icy as the car was frozen but fortunately there was no ice on the floor.
I set a 7min/mile playlist on Spotify and pressed play. Kool and the Gang kicked things off with 'Celebration' which was a great motivating track to stretch and warm up to.
GPS locked on, watch started, and we're off.
I planned my 5k loop with a short down to a long flat so as to pick up momentum. I was pushing everything I had, determined to keep the pace going as I hit the first uphill section at 1km. I slowed a little but glanced at my watch, I'm running up this stretch at 5min/Kms. That felt good. I might just do well here.
The next 3 km was a long fairly flat road that ends in a lovely downhill section around a corner.
There's something special about this corner as it's the point throughout C25K that no matter how tired or disengaged with the run, I would always get into the rythm and my mindset would change.
The final km and things are looking good for a PB. If only I didn't have a steep hill to clamber up. Pushed it hard as I could but I knew my body was slowing down. Maybe I should have chose a different route?
Finally reaching the top of the hill, I picked up the pace, thinking I could still do this. I could still get that PB afterall. One long flat stretch as hard and fast as I could. I kept glancing at my pace on my watch and it wasn't budging. I'm going as fast and hard as I can and doing the mental maths to work out if I'm fast enough. I don't think I am, so I try my best to dig in deeper but that pace just isn't altering.
Finally my watch buzzes for the 5K finish line. I hit stop. I look. And I am in the street cheering (and panting) like crazy.
I've only gone a blummin done it! At 22:01 that's my fastest ever 5K, 66seconds quicker than my best solo effort and 1 second knocked off my ParkRun PB. Ok, I'm gutted I couldn't quite hit that sub22 target but I now know that it's possible.
Fly5k was definitely the motivation I needed to run fast. I uploaded my time then waited for the results to come in. 104th out of 410 runners. I'm pleased with that.
I can't say I'll be aiming for PBs every week, but I'm certainly looking forward to taking part again and working towards my sub20 dream! Who knows, maybe I'll be in the top 100 next time?
week3run1 ✅. 3 x 17 mins with 1 min walks. 
How did your parkrun or (not)parkrun go?
