Drenched, But Determined

Yesterday's 5K race was a literal wash, where I finished in 21:44 in drizzling rain. I started off well, passing the first mile in 6:22, then mile two at 13:12, but then my pace crumbled in mile three, where I decelerated four times to recover. This seems to be a pattern. Crummy wet and humid racing conditions aside, I'm hitting a wall at the 21 minute mark; I ran this same race almost 30 seconds faster last year, when the temperature broke past 100 that day. It's hard to get the stars to align with ideal racing conditions, though maybe I should just avoid racing during peak summer heat. But with just a few weeks before I move to China, where I don't intend to run or race outdoors, my sub-20:00 goal may have to wait a bit longer. My training summary over the past month, all on treadmill, unless otherwise noted:

July 21: 3 miles easy

July 19: Outdoors, 1 mile warm up, 4 miles at a 6:34 pace (my watch was probably broken, since it said 21:00 at the 3 mile mark)

July 16: Outdoors, 2 mile warm up, 1 x 800 (2:57), 1 x 600, 1 x 200, 2 x 400 (87, 84) my intention to run 4 x 800 fell apart this day

July 12: 5 miles in 37:38 (8:11, 7:30, 7:30, 7:25, 7:02)

July 10: 5 miles: 1 mile warm up, 4 miles in 27:03 (6:56, 6:50, 6:39, 6:38) - the last 5K in 20:48

July 8: 5 miles: 2 mile warm up, 4 X 800 (3:00, 3:00, 3:00, 3:00) 1 X 400 m (90 sec.) 4 X 90 sec. recovery jogs

July 5: 4.5 miles: 2 mile warm-up, 3 X 800 (3:00, 3:00, 2:58) 1 X 400 (90), 90 sec. recovery jogs

July 2: 5 miles in 35:47: 7:59, 7:02, 6:53, 7:05, 7:48

June 30: 5 miles: 2 mile warm up, 4 X 800 (3:00, 3:00, 2:58, 3:00) 2 minute recovery jogs

June 27: Outdoors, 1 mile warm up, 5 miles in 39:11 (7:19, 8:26, 7:56, 7:28, 7:58)

June 25: 5 miles: 2 mile warm up, 4 X 800 (3:00, 3:00, 3:00, 2:58) two minute recovery jogs