Twice in a three week period I entered a race unprepared. Just like I mentioned in my Go! Mile race recap, this is totally uncharacteristic of me. I had made up my mind when I started running again a few weeks earlier, that I would NOT be running the Firecracker Fast 5K. My reasons: not adequately trained, potential hot and humid race conditions, neighbors shooting fireworks the night before keeping me up too late, a chance to sleep in, and the big hill at mile 2.5!

Then I got to thinking how much I enjoy the festivities of this race. Every year it’s held on the 4th no matter what day of the week. It draws a huge crowd of participants and spectators. The top 50 men and women receive a cool looking firecracker trophy as they cross the finish line. The team from Fleet Feet has done a really nice job maintaining and continuing the tradition of this race that was started in 1977. This point to point race is mostly downhill lending itself to many a PR. The course record is a 13:26 for the men and a 15:23 for the women.

I decided I really didn’t have anything to lose as long as I showed up with minimal expectations. This would give me a 5K benchmark to base my training for my fall 5K races. However, the deciding factor was when I found out my Searcy Rush teammates, Natalie and Tia were running. I have really missed my friends this year by not running and racing and was excited to spend the morning with them.

Natalie and her family gave me a ride to the starting line. After warming up with Natalie and her daughter, Mya, we dropped Natalie off close the starting line and Mya and I moved a little further back into the crowd. Natalie had asked me if I would line up with Mya and see that she got off to a good start and if possible try and run with her. Mya has been running very consistently this summer so I wasn’t sure it would be realistic to stay with her, but I was happy to be there for her.

When the gun went off it took us several seconds to get to the starting mat and then Mya was gone. My body felt so weird, like it was running in slow motion. It took me most of the first mile to get into a good rhythm.

My race plan was to go out easy the first mile which is relatively flat with a slight downhill. Then give it everything I have for the next mile and a half as I descend the steepest part of the hill. Once I hit the only uphill at 2.5 miles, I would just hang on and remember everyone else has to run up that same hill too! Truthfully I had scoped the 2017 results the day before. I knew my chances of getting a firecracker at the finish would be very slim, but an age group award might be a remote possibility.

I stuck with my plan. Mile one was an 8:08.3. I switched gears and pushed hard cruising through the second mile in 7:48.3. I was encouraged to see and run with my friend Shelly during that second mile. Around the second mile mark I saw Mya and kept her in my sight but couldn’t quite catch her. I was really winded by this point. As we got to the big hill at 2.5 I yelled for her to push hard. She picked it up and I did my best to follow her. Mile 3 was an 8:40.4. The final stretch is all downhill and I covered it in 0.52.1.

My final time by my Garmin was 25:29.1. The official race time was 25:27.83 and I finished 89th out of 812 women. (Race results are here.) No firecracker trophy at the finish, but my race was good enough to land me 2nd place in my age group! I’ll take it! And to think how I almost didn’t even run the race!

I’m reminded of one of my favorite scenes from Chariots of Fire when Harold Abrahams is sitting in bleachers with his girlfriend, Sybil, after losing a race.

Harold says, “If I can’t win, then I won’t run.”

Sybil looks at him and replies, “If you don’t run, then you can’t win.”

Do you ever jump into races totally unprepared? Leave me a comment below and tell me about it!