On the Run: Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo 5K & 10K - 2012

Last Sunday I did Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo - one of my favorite races of the year.  Actually now that I do both the 5k and 10k I should say it's two of my favorites!  I love it in part because it was the first race I ever ran so I like to see each year how much faster I get.  (In my 5th year running it my finishing time has dropped by 10 minutes - woot woot!)  I also love that it's fast and flat and not too crowded, which gives me a fighting chance at placing in my age group.  And although I sometimes get flack from other vegetarians and vegans for supporting the zoo, I firmly believe they do good work for the animals and treat them with care and respect.  The proceeds from this race benefit the veterinary hospital at the zoo, which I think is a good cause.  So really, what's not to love about this race?

The weather last weekend was absolutely perfect racing weather - sunshine, blue skies, cool temps, and a gentle breeze.  By my standards, Brian and I were a little late getting to the race so I jumped out on the service drive before he pulled into the parking lot and ran to the starting line.  I got there just in time for the singing of the National Anthem and then we were off.  Initially my goal was to use the 5k as a warm-up for the 10k that was to follow.  However, I had a lot of adrenaline going, started out strong, and before I knew it I was at mile 2.  With only another 1.1 miles to go there was really no point in slowing down.  Plus, the faster I ran the more time I would have between races to switch bibs and stand in line for the port-a-potties (I didn't have time to go before the 5k, remember?).  So I just went for it.  And when I crossed the finish line and saw the race clock I was so happy I ran the way I did.  I raised my arms and gave out a loud, "Wahoo!"  I'd never run so fast in all my life.  I'd gone balls to the wall.  (I actually shouted that to Brian when I finished.  Sorry parents.)  And I still had another 6.2 miles to run.  Oh sh*t.
 

Distance

5k 
 

Time 

21:39

Pace 

6:58/mile

Fuel 

Vanilla Chia Pudding (this recipe, minus the cocoa), banana

Tunes

Runaway Train / Soul Asylum

Take Me Away / Wild Belle

Michael Praytor, Five Years Later / Ben Folds Five

Mama's Room / Under the Influence of Giants

Your Easy Lovin' Ain't Pleasin' Nothin' / Mayer Hawthorne

Felt / Garbage

After such a glorious 5k I was super pumped about the 10k.  I started out way at the front again and from the get-go I was moving at a pretty good clip.  I wasn't really passing anyone yet but people weren't passing me, either.  After only about a mile, however, my mind started telling my legs they were tired.  I started thinking about how fast I'd just run and how far I had to go.  Even though I badly wanted to place in my age group I started to tell myself it was okay if I didn't.  But both races together are only 9 miles and I easily run 7 and 8 miles a couple days a week.  And this is race day!  Get a hold of yourself, I thought!  haha!  Anyway, I knew it was all in my head so I picked a person who was just a little ahead of me to catch up with, keep pace with for a while, and then eventually move on ahead of him or her to the next person.  I find that's the best way to keep pushing myself to run faster and faster in a race.  Keep running down the next target.  Oh, my strategically planned playlist worked great, too!  I got lots of cheers from volunteers along the course - and even some high fives - so that made it fun and was also highly motivating.  I finished strong again with a one second faster per mile pace than the 5k.  I couldn't believe it!  So just when I thought I couldn't run any faster . . . I did!  Woot woot!

Distance

10k 
 

Time 

43:17

Pace 

6:59/mile

Tunes

Teardrop Windows / Benjamin Gibbard

Don't Stop (Color on the Walls) / Foster the People

Strange Times / The Black Keys

In the Clouds / Under the Influence of Giants

I Feel Better / Gotye

You Called Me / Mayer Hawthorne

Runaway Baby / Bruno Mars

Mountain Sound / Of Monsters and Men

Dynamite / Taio Cruz

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor / Arctic Monkeys

Blood for Poppies / Garbage

So Good / B.o.B.

Princess of China / Coldplay & Rihanna

Uprising / Muse

I ended up placing 1st in my age group in the 10k and 2nd in my age group in the 5k - with new PR's to boot!  The medals are identical except that the 1st place is gold on the back and the 2nd place is silver. 

And check it out - I made the Leaderboard for both races! 

Next up: The Brooksie Way 1/2 Marathon - Sunday, September 30th

On the Run: Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo 5K & 10K - 2011

Last Sunday was the 4th anniversary of my first race.  It's sort of hard to believe that I've only been running for four years!  In a way it feels like it's been a part of my life for so much longer.  (You can read my story here.)  

My first race was the Run Wild for the Detroit Zoo 10K.  I ran the it in 53:01.  I've run it every year since, each year shaving a few minutes off my time. 

This year I decided to try something a little different.  I've never run a 5K.  No offense to any 5Kers out there, but they don't seem worth the trouble to deal all the crowds of people for such a short race.  Anyway, I've never done one but this year I signed up for the 5 AND the 10K.  I figured if I was there anyway I might as well.  The start times are 45 minutes apart, so there's plenty of time to do both with a break in between.

The weather couldn't have been more perfect for race day.  Temps were in the 60's and it was sunny and dry.  The course is a fast and flat one through neighborhoods surrounding the zoo.  There were a lot of people out to show support, which always makes a huge difference in my opinion.  It's a seriously fun race to do and (although you may have your own opinion about zoos) the money goes to support the animals so I think it's a good cause.

My plan was to use the 5K as a warm-up - just take it easy, get myself loosened up and moving.  Well...that didn't exactly happen.  We got there late and by the time I got to the start line, the race had officially begun.  At least I heard people saying it had begun but no one was actually moving.  That's when I realized that I was stuck at the back of a huge pack of joggers and walkers and strollers.  Ugh.  The whole first mile was a fight through heavy Christmas-style mall traffic.  I tried every evasive technique in the book.  It wasn't easy - or necessarily safe - but eventually I was able to break free and once I did there was no slowing down.  Plus by that point I realized I only had 2 miles left.  I was practically to the finish line!  I kept up my quick pace and got the end as quick as I could.  Brian was there to see me finish and help me switch bibs before heading out to meet his cousin for breakfast in Royal Oak (that's their yearly tradition).  I killed time between races by walking around, stretching a bit, watching runners finish, and choosing my next playlist.  The time passed pretty quickly.

Distance

5k 
 

Time 

22:53

Pace 

7:22/mile

Fuel 

strawberry soy yogurt with raw oats, banana

Tunes

I Feel It All / Feist

Don't Wanna Talk / Brendan Benson

Know Your Enemy / Green Day

Girl / Beck

1,000,000 / Nine Inch Nails

Lost in the Supermarket / Ben Folds

The Underdog / Spoon

Angels of the Silences/ Counting Crows

The Sound of Settling / Death Cab for Cutie

Miami / Will Smith

Heavy Metal Drummer / Wilco

For the 10K, I made sure to start out right at the front of the pack.  (It was a much smaller race, though, and without the walkers and strollers, I wasn't in danger of being stuck behind anyone too slow anyway.)  As soon as I started out, I thought to myself, "What the hell was I thinking doing both of these races?"  My hamstring hurt.  My hips hurt.  It was going to be a long 6 miles.

But after the first mile I started to loosen up again.  I picked a girl who seemed to be running about at my pace and decided to stick by her.  By mile 2, however, I was passing her.  I picked another girl to run near.  By mile 3 I was passing her.  Around mile 4 I found myself in the middle of a pack of guys.  I felt pretty good there, figuring that if I could run with them I was doing pretty well.  As I passed the 5-mile marker, I slowly moved out of that group, as well.  

As I neared the end of the race, I kept zeroing in on a person in front of me and making it my mission to pass him.  Once I did, I chose my next target.  It felt amazing to pass one person after another.  As I passed the 6-mile marker, I briefly worried that I may not have the energy to give it my all in the final stretch.  I was afraid I would have to slow down at the end.  But wait - slow down and disappoint all these people who were there cheering for me?  (Okay, so although none of them actually knew me, everyone there was so cool and I was so darn proud of myself that I felt like every person WAS cheering for me!)  So slow down?  I think not!  So I picked it up, dug it out, and finished strong.

Just as I crossed the finish line, a runner ahead of me turned around to tell me that he heard me behind him the whole time and I pushed him to run faster.  Then one of the guys I ran with for a bit finished just after me and we congratulated each other on a good race.  I really felt like a runner!

After the race I went over to the post-race party.  The food was really sad and unhealthy - hot dogs, chips, Twinkies, Ho-Hos, and pop.  The only healthy thing was apples.  Not even any bananas!  I didn't care too much about the food once they posted the results, though.  Although it wasn't a PR for me (that was last year - I ran it two seconds/mile slower this year) I came in 2nd in my age group for the 10K and won a medal!  wahoo! 

Armed with 4 apples and my winner's medal, I happily waved good-bye to the otters and jogged out of the zoo. 

My first winner's medal - 2nd place in my age group!

Distance

10k 
 

Time 

46:55

Pace 

7:33/mile

Tunes

Good Day / Tally Hall

Pumped Up Kicks / Foster the People

Telephone / Pomplamoose

Song Away / Hockey

Born This Way / Lady Gaga

Float On / Goldspot

(Don’t Fear) The Reaper / Blue Oyster Cult

Misery / Maroon 5

Under Cover of Darkness / The Strokes

Shut Up and Drive / Rihanna

Charlie Mix / Otto Vector

100 Miles and Runnin’ / N.W.A.

Our Time Now / Plain White T’s

A Matter of Time / Foo Fighters

That Someone is You / R.E.M.

Bad Romance / Lady Gaga

Kick Drum Heart / The Avett Brothers

Next race: The Big House Big Heart 10K, October 9th (My birthday!)