Beat the Deadline 5K

If you were given the chance to run down Pennsylvania Ave in Washington D.C., with no cars, and views of all the major monuments, museums, and state buildings everywhere you looked, wouldn't you do it? Even in extreme heat and humidity? Even if it meant getting up extra early on a Saturday morning? That's what the National Press Club Beat the Deadline 5K last Saturday morning in D.C. entailed. 

Call me crazy, but I did it. 

I wore my Team Beef Montana jersey and represented the great state of Montana, and also because it was the most practical thing to wear in the heat and humidity. I got several comments and curious compliments on the jersey, so as always, it was great advertising for Montana beef producers, and the beef market in general. 

The race was sponsored by the National Press Club in Washington D.C. and proceeds went to fund journalism scholarships for students. To me, it looked like they had excellent turnout. It was nice weather (relatively nice... It is still D.C., one of the hottest, most humid places in our country!) I had gone the night before and picked up my packet and t-shirt, so all I had to do on Saturday was show up and run. 

Getting ready for the start of the race! 

When the race began, I was in the middle of the pack. I went out hard (for me), as I usually do, and got to the first mile marker in 7:45. By this point, I had run from the NPC, which is right by the White House, down some side streets and to Pennsylvania Ave, then behind the National Archives, the National Gallery (my fave!), and by some other great museums. We were headed toward the Capitol building and the Washington Monument was behind us. 

Classic-- taking a photo whilst running.
Can you see the Capitol dome? 

After turning right and running across the mall, right in front of the Capitol, the route went just a little further, toward some government office buildings, then we turned around and followed the same path back to the NPC. The views on this race were pretty awesome. I couldn't get past the fact that I was running up and down Pennsylvania Ave, with traffic blocked off. Loved it! 

NPC volunteer cheering on finishers. Almost there! 

With about a mile left, I started getting really horrible sideaches, so I had to really slow my pace down. I even walked for about a minute. I'm a little bummed that that had to happen, but that's how it goes sometimes. I'm attributing the cramp to dehydration brought on by heat and humidity, which I'm not used to running in. Nevertheless, I finished the race with a time of 26:33, which is actually only one second slower than my personal best this season (which I ran at the Let Freedom Run race on 4th of July in Choteau, MT). Considering that I was hamstringed by cramps and had to slow down and walk, I'm incredibly happy with the time. 

Just checking the official results from the race website, I was still 9th out of 40 women in my age group. In the top 25% of finishers-  I'll take it! I was also the 206th finisher out of 497 overall. Not too bad.  My mile pace was 8:33, significantly faster (like- a minute and a half!) than where I started this running season. Proud of that, too. Hard work pays off. The first place female finisher won in a time of 17:15, at age 40. The first place female finisher won in a time of 17:15, at age 40. So, in ten years I think I can get there. HA! :)

That's the lady who won the race, cooling down (if one can cool down in that heat!) afterwards. 

Overall, it was a great race and I'm really glad I did it. Next up on my race schedule is the Kickin Assphault 10K tomorrow morning in Great Falls! My first 10K... kinda nervous! Wish me luck! 

These shoes have put on a lot of miles this year!
Where will they take me next?