Make Tracks Through(?) the Zoo take 3

This May I ran the Zoo 5K for the third year in a row. I was hoping for a PR. I did not get one.

In fact, that entire race was a disaster in spite of a decent time. For one, I didn't quite train like I should have (story of my life, I suppose), mostly because I thought it would be easier. For another, they'd changed the course and I had wrongfully assumed that most of the 5K would be THROUGH the zoo (instead of the last 1 kilometer). I should have checked the course map, but still, it was a bit odd. Third, with the change of course, there was a lot more uphill than I was prepared for.

Not being prepared for uphill running is my constant nemesis. I absolutely loathe hill running and I don't even like going downhill very much unless it's a gentle slope.

So pretty much by the second mile I was literally crying and wheezing with every step. Other runners were concerned and kept asking if I was ok. I was so angry and I couldn't pull myself out of the funk. I knew the constant negativity was hurting me, but I was so overwhelmed by my incorrect assumptions of the race that I wanted to quit. I even WALKED a decent amount, and I never walk during 5Ks. I had to walk up the hills and I was so incredibly crabby about it.

When we finally got to the zoo part of the run, I was too angry to really appreciate it, though running by the giraffes did elevate my mood a bit, and they did direct the water mister towards the runners so that was nice.

I snapped this moments after my finish. Feel the irritation.

In the end, I got 33:39. Still a decent time, but one I was not happy with.

However, I ran the race with my niece Suzy who runs cross country. She had a good time, and my friends Adam and Tiesha had also run. So we got to go to the zoo after the race and see the animals and it really lifted my spirits.

We got to see the baby Rhino Moyo!! Okay so he's a year old now but still

So this race taught me a hard lesson. Always check race courses and hills suck. At least the Zoo 5K gives you a great post-run breakfast, and the zoo is right there to wander around. Thankfully, my next 5K was a wonderful experience, but more on that next time.

I have a tempo run to complete.