Seattle Marathon 5k (8-26-2017)

The Seattle Marathon 5k. It started with a simple text to a speedy friend of mine a week before the race: "Thought I'd give you a heads up that the Seattle Marathon 5k/10k is back at a new location (Seward Park) and has prize money for both events!". He had been winning some big races this year so I wanted to let him know about the opportunity. He told me he wouldn't be able to make it, but that he heard one of the fastest master's women in the country (Janet Mcdevitt) would be racing the 5k. Uh oh. At least one person would be giving me a run for my money! HA... Ha.... ha... get it? Run for my mo-... Ok, ok! We joked a little bit more about how I should call it on my office job and follow a lucrative career as a pro runner if I managed to podium. 

Friend: "$25 could go a long way."

Me: "Ya, if I invest aggressively, I could make back the registration fee in like a year!"

Friend: "Clutch."

Both of us: Proceed to spam text money emojis at each other... (not really)

After a low key July and August, I wanted to fit in one more race before the end of the Summer. I knew that the Seattle Marathon 10k was held in late August, and learned that the 5k race option would be returning this year after a long hiatus. I also learned that they would be offering prize money for the top winners of both the 5k and 10k! I love races with prize money. Not because I expect to win any, but because it means the event is taken seriously, will be well organized, and will draw out some super fast runners to the race!

After registering for the 5k race, I looked over the course map. I’ll now let you in on "Carl's Racing Tip #42": Studying a race course before you actually get out there is f***ing amazing! Knowing the uphills, downhills, turns, terrain changes, and geographic markers of a course will allow you to form a race strategy tailored for that specific course (and help keep you from getting lost, even if the course marshal mistakenly tries to misguide you down the wrong path...). For me, it also provides an outlet for my anxiety leading up to a race. It lets me feel like I am in control and proactively preparing instead of passively waiting.

Fun fact, a lot of my racing tips are actually taken from Zombieland's Rules. No, I'm dead (haha... zombie... dead... ha...) serious. I mean it's quite logical if you think about it. Running a race like you are running for your life away from zombies will inevitably yield impressive results. Check this out.

Applicable Zombieland Rules:

Rule #1: Cardio... Obviously. Check!

Rule #3: Beware of Bathrooms... Ever used a porta potty at a race? Definitely Check!

Rule #7: Travel light... Check!

Rule #18: Limber up... The pre-race warm-up is a definite must. Check!

Rule #20: It's a marathon not a sprint, unless it's a sprint, then sprint... LOL!

Rule #28: Double knot your shoes... Agreed. Check!

Rule #32: Enjoy the little things... YASSSS! Check!

Pre-Race Warm up.

Fast forward to race day. I arrived a good hour early, and went straight into my pre-race routine. I did a light warm-up run along the first mile of the course, turned around, and headed back to the start line. On my way back, I came across a rabbit on the side of the path, just chilling and snacking on some grass. I stopped and we stared at each other for a good awkward minute. In my head, I was thinking: "IT'S A SIGN!". Although I can't tell you what the rabbit was thinking, I like to believe it was something along the lines of...

Anyway, I reached the start line (with one minute to spare... yikes!) and closed my eyes, taking deep breaths, trying to relax. I looked around, taking note of the Club NW singlets and checking race bibs, making a mental note of who was racing the 10k and who was racing the 5k. I spotted Janet and another fast Club NW runner named Megan Heuer and moved up along side them at the start line. The race announcer started the countdown and we were off! The super fast 10k Club NW guys took off and I let them go, instead staying with Megan and Janet who I knew would be racing around my target pace. Megan and another guy (I would later learn was a Seattle Running Club member named Bryan) took the lead of the 5k. The 10k course split off up a hill (suckers), and suddenly the front pack of the 5k runners were alone. I felt strong throughout the first mile, but Janet edged out in front of me, pushing me in to 4th. The course was an out-and-back along the outside path of Seward Park, and was pretty flat as it remained alongside the water of Lake Washington the entire time. By the halfway mark I was still in 4th, and used the turnaround to assess how far ahead our front pack was. I noticed that I had a good lead on the next runner, and that definitely gave me a morale boost. I used this motivation to push forward and by the end of the second mile I was right on Janet's heels.

With one mile left, I found one last gear and stepped it up. I could feel my form beginning to break down, but I was determined to push and test my limits in this race. With about half a mile left, I managed to pass Janet and realized I still felt like I had enough to close. Everyone dreads the end of a race, but every once in a while, everything aligns. You feel strong. You have confidence. In the middle of the racing chaos, you realize you are having so much fun! That's how I felt at the end of the Seattle Marathon 5k! I flew around the final turn and kicked the last 200m past the finish line in an official time of 17:59, placing 2nd in the Men's division and 3rd Overall!

I went over and congratulated the other top finishers. The race director pulled me aside and told me to stick around because they would be awarding prizes to the top finishers in about 20-30 minutes. I nodded and got in a quick cool down run, picked up my bag from the gear check, and headed back to the finish line. The top 10k finishers came through and awards were handed out as results were finalized!

As the race director called out the names of the race winners and their times, I heard my name suddenly called out. I went up to the podium and was handed the 2nd place award for the Men's 5k! Cha-Ching!

All in all, I had a blast at this race! I went out and showed some #brooksrunning and #darkhorse spirit, proved to myself that I could still turn out a sub-18 5k, and was able to follow my dreams as a pro-runner for a day! LOL!

Thanks to those of you who have made it to the end of this blog post! Run Happy!

Post race thoughts:

1. The Seattle Marathon hasn't to my knowledge offered prize money in the past, so it will be interesting if they post prize money for the Half and Full Marathon races this Fall.

2. Great season for the Brooks Beasts! Follow their twitter @beaststc ! Also, if you want to hear me fanboy over the Brooks Beasts, you can follow my twitter @CLLaviolette

3. Not sure what my next race will be. I might just call it a season and dive back into base buildup phase!