1:00:42 x 2

This past weekend, we were up in Sacramento for the Shamrock'n Half.  I ran the 10K, while Gianina and Adrian did the 5K.  I was initially planning to do the half marathon but decided to bail out several weeks ago because... well, i just didn't want to do it half-assed.  At my current level of fitness, i could definitely finish 13.1, but not well enough for my taste.  I know my running will never be "competitive,"  but i still have standards, hahaha.  

This was kind of a big deal for me because I haven't run a 10K since i was 7 years younger and 30 pounds lighter.  I wanted to test myself and see if i could still do a sub-60.

Well, i failed.  I got in a little over 60.

HOWEVER, I don't feel as bad about it as i thought i would.  For one, my time did not go all the way up to 1:01.  While not very precise, i can still say i finished a 10K "in an hour."  Also, 16/35 for my age group is a smidge above median.  Eight years ago, despite finishing in about 58 minutes and change, i was still below 50th percentile.  Growing old (and trying to keep fit while doing it) has its perks, i suppose.

I actually ran TWO races this weekend, simultaneously.  We also signed up for the 3rd annual Pi Day 5K (10K for me).  It's an interesting concept: a VIRTUAL race which you run wherever you are, around "Pi Day," or March 14th (3/14).  I don't think we will win any prizes, but it sounded sufficiently geeky to sign up for, and is for a good cause, donating part of the proceeds to the Expanding Your Horizons Network, which helps get girls and young ladies into STEM careers.

So now i have a finishing time for that race as well.

All in all, i seem to be mostly on track for hitting my main fitness goal, which is to get back to the shape i was in when i was a "runner."  Between injuries and the fellowship, the past several years turned me into a bag of grease held together by soft muscles and sinew.  The races i run mainly serve the purpose of "checkpoints" to keep me honest/accountable.  Well okay, they're fun too.