Previous Distance PR: 0:47:53 (Flying Pig 2017)
Goals:
When I registered for Peachtree, I was hoping to use it as a way to get back in shape after spending July 2021 - January 2022 dealing with one health thing after another (a terrible few months of skin rash, RSV, sudden unilateral deafness, and a bunch of other random viruses from daycare, etc). I'd hoped for a sub-50, which would put me solidly in shape for a speedier fall training cycle.
Getting COVID in April crippled any chance of that happening. Not only was I not able to run, but it took about two months before I could even function through my normal work/family day without extreme fatigue. Even a week before Peachtree, I was still modifying my workout routine and struggling to figure out what my body could (and couldn't) handle.
I showed up at the start line with zero goals and zero plans. About ten minutes before the gun went off, I decided to do intervals, and hastily programmed my watch. I opted for 4min run/30s walk. While I'd wanted to "run the whole thing", the past few weeks of training showed me I had less of a chance of post-exertional malaise symptoms with walk breaks.
My training partner asked me about what I was planning to run, and I shrugged off her question, but she eventually did get me to say I'd guess we'd average 9:15.
Result: 57:34 (9:16/mi/avg) though that does include getting stopped for an ambulance on-course...
Training: HA. The past twelve weeks have been about just existing. I've had just under half of the days this year affected by sickness/injury/illness. I've had exactly 3 runs close to a 10K distance, and averaged about 15-20mi a week (compared to a typical long run of 10-12 each week and ~35-40mi/week in a normal year).
I felt surprisingly good for the first 5K of the race, and enjoyed it. I kept a solid pace for 14-15min/mi for the walk breaks, and was in a mid-8 for the runs. I finished the first 5K in 27:32 (8:51/mi avg) and loved it. After that, I knew my body probably couldn't/shouldn't continue that push, and opted to relax a bit on the runs (but kept the pace on the walks). Despite it being overcast, it was still HOT and HUMID.
The second half of the course was more of a 9:40/mi pace, and the last mile was tough, but I was just so grateful to be able to be out here DOING IT. Back in May, I honestly didn't think I would be able to walk 6.2 mi today.... at ANY pace.
Peachtree #10 in the books.
Reflections:
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