5K Mud Run

Today's Run
Distance: 3.1 miles
Time: 25:53
Pace: 8:20
Calories: 442
Power Song: Don't Stop Believing by Journey

It was a beautiful quiet Sunday afternoon where I sat in peace and read my Runner's World magazine about a distance I ran a lot when I was in high school, the quick 5K race. I thought about the races I ran growing up from normal typical meets to the Regional's to the Cross Country State Championships. It was the distance I ran and practiced this distance quite a few years. So while reading the articles about the great 5K I was inspired to run a quick 5K the next morning.

Off I went out and realized I'm no where as quick as I was in high school. Back then, which was about ten years ago I ran a 5K in 16 minutes flat. Today, after running 16 minutes I was flat in mud. Yes, as I was running along my farmland trails I ran into a long puddle of mud. I didn't want to stop because with every step I was sinking more and more I thought I was in quick sand. As I was running my shoes were getting heavier and heavier with mud.

It reminded me of when I competed in the biggest Cross Country race in North America, the Living History Farms Cross Country race. It had rained all the night before and came race day, the 6.2 mile course was wet and very muddy. While most people were struggling with an extra couple of pounds of mud on the shoes, I simply took my shoes of as I knew my shoes were going to run it's last race that day. I didn't see another runner do that, take their shoes off. It was honestly the first thing that came to my mind. My feet were much lighter. I ran barefoot the 14 years of my life. Growing up in South Africa, every track meet, every cross country meet, any type of running was done barefoot. The bottom of my foot could have crushed the thorns and glass beneath my feet because of callas that had formed. Okay, not that crazy but you get the point. I finished that race at 42 minutes. A fun race.

My wife gave me the third degree as I walked into the house with my shoes, Totally expected of course. Today's run made my realize how much I've slowed down since ten years ago. I ran about ten minutes slower than I did in high school but then again, that was also about 60 pounds ago too. Anything slower than a 5:30 mile and you were kicked off the varsity cross country team. In any case, I'm glad I was able to work on a quicker tempo at a decent race distance of a the great 5K. Next run I think will be a little  slower and a little longer.

Did you run today?