Los Angeles Angels 5k (18:48)

Earlier than I start: the Los Angeles Angels 5K is rarely a full 5k course. I consider it’s a couple of tenth of a mile quick 12 months after 12 months. You lose GPS whereas operating contained in the stadium, so that you by no means actually know. This 12 months, I had about 12 seconds of “zero motion” logged on my watch and one other stretch at a ten–11 minute tempo whereas it tried to seek out sign.

It wouldn’t be nice for me to sit down right here and fake I ran a 5K in 18:48…that’s doing myself a disservice and setting myself up for disappointment after I don’t run that quick once more. To not put a damper on the race, as a result of it’s nonetheless enjoyable however it’s quick. Anyway…

Earlier than the Los Angeles Angels 5K:

Because of Juneteenth and taking Friday off, I had a pleasant, stress-free few days earlier than the race. I additionally received to go away so much sooner than I might if I had been working. Whereas Orange County and Anaheim are “solely” a two-hour drive from my home with out visitors, I by no means drive there with out visitors…it may well take over three hours, if not three and a half. So it was good to not be getting there late. We even made a rapid cease on the Reptile Zoo to carry some snakes.

I slept fairly effectively the night time earlier than, and we received to the Los Angeles Angels 5K begin round 6:50 a.m. It will get actually backed up when you arrive after 7, so I attempt to get there early. I did a 3-mile warm-up and lined up on the entrance. I’ve made the error of beginning too far again at this race, and it turns right into a cluster attempting to not get run over.

Los Angeles Angels 5K Race:

The Los Angeles Angels 5K is rarely a full 5K. I all the time estimate it’s between 3.0 and three.05 miles. Plus, it goes by way of Angels Stadium, so GPS turns into unreliable…so you actually don’t know. This 12 months, I made a decision to manually mark it and see what occurred.

Instantly after the beginning, it was chaos. Because it’s a 3,000+ particular person 5K with extra baseball followers than runners, many individuals don’t perceive the best way to self-seed and line up too far ahead. The primary mile loops across the stadium with a number of turns…it’s not a quick course. I manually marked my watch at mile 1 and it mentioned 5:39. I do know that’s not proper. I truly ran round a 6:09.

Surprisingly, I used to be in first place at that time, however I knew there have been quick girls within the race. One lady handed me simply after mile 1 and by no means seemed again. I knew I wasn’t catching her. The second mile takes you into the stadium, the place you fully lose GPS. It’s a cool expertise operating by way of the stadium, but in addition difficult. It’s one big flip, and my watch mentioned I ran a “7:09” second mile. It additionally advised me I wasn’t transferring in a single half and operating a ten:40 tempo in one other. One other lady handed me within the stadium and I discovered myself in third however not too far behind second.

I hit the mile 2 marker at 5:43. My guess is I ran it in about 6:20, however who is aware of? The ultimate mile takes you again across the car parking zone and onto the warning observe. I handed the second-place lady simply earlier than hitting the warning observe. It’s mentally powerful as a result of as soon as you allow the observe, you’ll be able to see the end line from practically a 3rd of a mile away. I simply centered on the end and saved pushing. My watch recorded a 6:03 mile, which was a full mile from the final guide mark.

I crossed the end line in 18:48, second lady total.

Los Angeles Angels 5K Ideas:

I’ve a love/hate relationship with the Los Angeles Angels 5K. I appear to run effectively right here and it’s actually enjoyable, however I by no means fairly know the way effectively. Was it a 19:20 5K? 19:30? I genuinely consider I ran someplace between 19:20–19:25, however we’ll by no means know. And actually, typically it’s good to not depend on your watch a lot. Both method, I ran my quickest ever on this course and completed because the second lady…my highest place end but.