I completed with my best 10k time ever. I worked hard for that time and became very frustrated at one point, after the 5k people split off and it became suddenly much more lonely as I entered the 10k route. Fortunately, I have a good friend who has been working early mornings, whom I was able to catch via messaging when I was feeling a little frustrated and needed moral support. She said just the right thing.
I completed the 10k in 1 hour and 41 minutes. Which comes out to an average of 16.3 minute miles and 3.7 miles per hour. This is a good pace for me for going this distance. I don't have any problem with going that distance - just working on increasing my speed a bit. Two weeks ago I was frustrated because I was walking 17 minute miles at five mile walks and that jumped to just over 18 minute miles when I walked six to six and a half miles. Last fall, my friend and I were happy when we completed a 10k in just over two hours (20+ minute miles).
And I confirmed that my pace breaks down a little at three miles. I completed the first three miles in just about 42 minutes, which means a 14 minute mile - wow. But then mile three to four was 20 minutes - and I was bummed. Mile four to five was about the same. Then I gave it everything I had left for the last 1.2 miles and completed that in 19 minutes, meaning a 15.8 minute mile - not bad for the final 1.2 miles!
So - I am not a race walker and I'm fine with that. Despite my crash near the middle and feeling like I just wanted to give up (okay, I admit I wanted to quit about three times during the event), I finished with good times for me and a new personal best. Now that it's done - I feel good about what I did.
