Race Report: Atlanta Lab Rescue 5K

Race: Stroller 5K

Previous PR: 0:24:12 (3/25/17 Pound the Pavement for Peter-- short course)
Goal: didn't have one-- just wanted to run fast-ish/tempo-y pace?
Result: 0:24:11 (1st AG, 1st Stroller) 

...and awesome race photos from True Speed Photography

Training:

Nothing specific for this race-- just beginning taper week of Atlanta Half Marathon training. Definitely haven't done much stroller running for awhile. 

Pre-Race:

I warmed up with a running mama friend who'd literally come all the way over to Marietta JUST to cheer for us. <3 We did an ONB on the first mile of the race course, and it was definitely a good reminder of the hills to come. Oof. I felt like my legs did NOT want to turnover. "Good thing this only needs to be tempo miles."

Got to sing the National Anthem with my chorus, Song of Atlanta. This was awesome. 

not our choreo for the national anthem... just an impromptu dance party

Race:

Not much to say here. I spent the race smiling, and literally just being so grateful to share the race with my little one today. I didn't look at my pace, just endured the hills and told myself, "you can slow down, but you will NOT walk" a few times.

The hills weren't bad... except for the fact that I was pushing ~60lbs up them. 

I did appreciate how, once we'd made the U-turn, I knew the bulk of the course was downhill. It made it MUCH easier (though that last little mountain was tough, and I was grateful for my running mama friend and her munchkin's cheers). 

My little one and I talked through most of the race, about the dogs we saw, the hills, and how I was trying to get him a medal. :) 


Really, though, the entire time, I was just enjoying myself. I was enjoying the run, enjoying the time with my little one, enjoying seeing my husband and other friends on the course, and just enjoying the experience. It shows in every picture; I'm smiling in ALL of them. 

Reflections:

I still remember how elusive a sub-25 5K used to be for me. I remember more than one failure at hitting that time. Now, I'm easily running almost a minute below that, on a hilly course, pushing ~60lbs of weight (that's stroller + kiddo), without any specific training or tapering. Training is amazing. Hooray, running. 

I loved how many Atlanta Track Club friends I saw at a non-Atlanta Track Club event. It always feels like I'm part of a team when ATC runners go to a non-ATC event. We all celebrated each other's successes, and most of us went home with hardware.

This run, more than any other I can recall, really embodied everything I wanted in a stroller race. I was running my pace, without fearing for anyone's safety, and sharing the joy of running with friends and family. It was awesome... and the medal didn't hurt. Though, I'll be honest, I just wanted it for my kid. 

little one was so happy to get a medal, and enjoyed climbing onto the tallest box (podium) with me

"Mommy, where's YOUR medal?"