5k race series - View The Race Blog
A+ A A-

View The Race Blog

Subscribe to feed Viewing entries tagged 5k race series

Good Times Spring Series Award Night 2014

Posted by David Hardy
David Hardy
VTR Expert
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, June 11, 2014
in Road Races

 

 

Last night was the Good Times 5k Spring Series Award night. This series is a 5k road race held on 10 consecutive Tuesday nights in Lowell, Massachusetts. Each week points are awarded to each finisher using a complicated formula based on the overall winner's time. The points are cumulative so showing up for all 10 weeks is mandatory if you want to place in your age group. Weekly prizes are also awarded but the big prize is placing overall in the series. If you are just hearing about this series for the first time check out the course and more info here.

My goal this year and every year is to complete all 10 races and place in my age group. Mission accomplished! Last night I was awarded the Golden Mylie (finishing all 10 races) and a plaque for finishing 2nd in my age group for the series. What made this even more satisfying was that my wife also completed the entire series and placed second as well in her age group. Finishing all 10 races is a commitment. This was especially true this year as I suffered a bad back injury before week 5 and it took a tremendous effort to show up and finish the race. (story here) Everyone who completed all 10 races can look back and remember a week where they almost didn't make it. I am happy I completed my goal but I can honestly say I need a few weeks off from racing on Tuesday nights!

What's next? Well, after a few weeks of rest I plan on re-doubling my training efforts. This might sound crazy but completing a 5k every week actually made me lose some conditioning. I ended up racing on 4 weekends during the series as well and at this point my legs are smoked. I need a few solid weeks of training to get back on track. After that I plan on racing a lot this summer and possibly training for a longer distance event this fall.

In case this series interests you the Good Times Summer Series actually starts next Tuesday night. It is the same format as the Spring Series. Check it out here if you are interested. (Good Times Summer Series)

 

Hits: 27684
Rate this blog entry
5 votes

Good Times 5k Spring Series Week Two

Posted by David Hardy
David Hardy
VTR Expert
User is currently offline
on Wednesday, April 16, 2014
in Road Races

Last night was week two of the Good Times 5k Spring Series. After the extremely windy conditions of week one I was hoping for better weather. Despite the wind and rain throughout the day, the weather actually improved slightly by race time. It was still windy but it was a warm 60 degrees with little to no rain for the race.

My goal for week two was to run a steady pace and get close to my time from week one. Even though the weather was a lot better my legs were still tired from my triathlon this past Sunday. I am getting a little old to be racing twice in three days with no effect on my performance.

I started nice and strong running a decent 6:17 for the first mile. I knew right away my legs had no zip but felt OK. As I started the second mile I began to fall apart. I am beginning to think this new second mile for Good Times is a lot tougher than the old course. The hill up to the bridge is longer and the running is awkward with potholes, sewer drains, and jersey barriers in your way. I ended up running 6:41 for mile 2 which was only 7 seconds better than the week before when I almost came down to a walk due to the wind. After mile two my legs gave out and I had to concentrate to avoid losing a ton of time. I ended up with a 6:46 3rd mile. After a sprint to the finish I ended up with 20:16. This was 7 seconds better than last week and the same time I got in the 5k at the triathlon two days earlier.

I have done the Good Times Series many times and it is important to not get too high or too low week to week. Running a 5k for ten weeks straight is not easy.  Many things happen week to week that can effect the way your legs feel. Other races, tough work schedules, sickness, etc. can all have an effect on your body resulting in a poor or mediocre performance. The key is to run as steady as you can and fight through the bad weeks and then really take advantage of the weeks you feel great. You never know how your competition is feeling week to week but assume they are having as many ups and downs as you are.

Good Times rolls on....week 3 next week.

My results week two: 20:16   10th overall   2nd in age group

Hits: 5311
Rate this blog entry
8 votes
Race ListVTR BlogVTR Discussions

Latest Blog Posts

© 2015 View The Race | All rights reserved.

Login or Register

           |