Point Bock 5 Miler Recap

Happy Monday!

On Saturday morning, I was lucky enough to be able to run the Point Bock 5 miler in Stevens Point, WI.  This race sells out in a matter of hours every year, partly due to its fame in Runners World, and partly due to the 3(!) free quality Point beers each participant gets after the race.

This race holds special meaning to me as my dad was a huge collector of all things Point Beer.  My brother (who is not a runner) and I ran it last year together in honor of my dad.

This year, I planned on running it with my husband Nick and my friend and training buddy Matt.  I didn't have high hopes for the race - I've only been running for about 5 weeks since the last in my long succession of injuries, but I was so excited to be well enough to run.

My 5 mile PR was pretty outdated and slow compared to my other PRs at 46:XX, so I wanted to try to get a new PR, but not to put my body through too much abuse.

The plan was a conservative progression run:

Mile 1:  9:15

Mile 2:  9:00

Mile 3: 8:45

Mile 4: 8:30

Mile 5: whatever I felt like!

We started off perfectly:  

Mile 1: 9:08

Mile 2: 9:00 (booyah.)

By the time I hit the turnaround at 22:37, I knew I had an easy PR in the bag.  I felt like I was just getting started and I was itching to take off.  Matt and Nick stopped at the turnaround for a breather, and I went on alone.  

Mile 3: 8:43

Mile 4: 8:21

Mile 5: 7:36

I had so much energy left at the end I ran the last quarter mile at a 6:20 pace and finished with a huge smile on  my face.

Final Time:  42:48

Pace: 8:34

After the race, I collected my beers, and walked back to find Alicia and Rachel, who were walking the race as they come back from their own injuries.  They were chattering away and l'm so glad they had each other to walk with (but I'm ready for us all to be HEALTHY again!!)  When they finished, we enjoyed brats and beers like true Wisconsin runners:

OK, guys, don't call AA.  They're not ALL mine!  :)

I am so grateful for this run.  I haven't raced since the worst race of my life in August, and I haven't had a race that was easy and fun since before I got pregnant.  In 2009.  

I'm starting to get my hopes up that this injury might be behind me, and that I may actually be able to train for a great race season this year... I've got some PRs to set!!