Running the Cap 10K

We ran the Cap 10K this morning and I am more than happy with the experience. I must say that training for it definitely paid off in a big way. A couple of months ago I read an article in Statesman about training for the Cap 10K and it sounded like something I might attempt. I mulled it around for a while, and eventually Jfer got wind of me considering it, which followed with an iPod for Valentine's Day, us getting signed up and having Elizabeth and Meredith O join us in the pursuit.

The first few weeks of training were pretty disheartening. After running a few hundred yards I'd be gasping and slowing to a walk. But things got better and by my last morning run on Thursday I'd been running for longer than ever and feeling good at the end of the workout.

So I wasn't too worried this morning, especially considering that quite a few people finish the run walking. This morning I started in the middle of the main pack with Meredith O, while Elizabeth started at the end of the pack with Jfer and Magda in the stroller. My goals were the do it in 1:30' and to hopefully beat Elizabeth and Jennifer :-) So my official total time was more like 1:22' although some of that was spent waiting in line for a port-a-potty in the middle of the course (hydration my ass). According to my iPod, my running time was 1:12'30". And I actually was running most of the time, too! And, to my delight, it was legs and not my lungs holding me back.

I think I crossed the finish line first of our group, although with everyone starting at different times, we all kind of finished within minutes of each other. I feel now that with more training I could easily run a 10K without doing any walking. Although not while pushing a stroller like Jennifer does.