Jeff is 100% at leading our friends to PRs and I was not bound to be the first failure. I was assured time and time again that we got this and that Jeff would catch me at the finish line. Yea, I don't need caught, but I will go along with this crazy plan. I will be honest, all week I was so stressed over this 5K. I did a lot of foam rolling, stretching, and active recovery during the week and my legs felt good...not great, but good.
I was a basketcase all morning, but Jeff did a wonderful job reassuring me that I am going to do great and I can do this. The gun went off a few minutes after 8 and there was no turning back now.
I was on pace through mile one, shaved a few seconds off pace in the second mile, and then mile three happened. I started to crash and burn - my legs were just done. I don't know if it was Sunday's half marathon, the cold, the wind, or a combination of them, but I was slowing down. Jeff was NOT going to let me lose what I was pushing for. I slowed down slightly but fortunately my mile two was a little faster.
I had no clue what my pace/time was as my Garmin was showing simply my distance. I know my body though and I know I had pushed as hard as possible. I spotted the clock at the finish line and I knew that I was close. I gave it absolutely every last ounce of what I had in those final yards.