We've had dry and warm weather lately so it was a good year for the Arcata Forest 5.5 mile run on Saturday. None of my family members opted to run (worn out from the Foggy Bottom Run a couple of weeks ago or just preferring pickleball), so I carpooled with Jenna.
Despite varying amounts of training, I had run basically identical times (1:01:46 in 2024 and 1:01:50 in 2025). I probably have run more miles this spring than in previous years with mostly non-rainy weather, and have been swimming as well, which is good non-joint-hurting endurance and cross-training for the legs. However, I don't have a pacing watch or really any goal times for races-- other than to do my best and feel good finishing.
The hills on this course are pretty brutal (there's even a "HA HA" in chalk on one incline due to how frustrating and exhausting they are!) and I'm not much of a hill-runner or trainer so did slow my jog and do my usual power-lunge (walk) up the steep ones. However, the course ends with a long mostly downhill slope, which is where one can make up time if your knees are cooperating (while being careful not to trip on tree roots).
I was surprised to see the clock as I came around the final bend-- I finished in 57:07, more than four minutes ahead of the previous years' times and the only time I've ever broken the hour mark (sixth for women in that distance for a "PR" [personal record]). Jenna came in second for women and our boys' track coach, Kristin, passed me mid-race and finished a few places ahead of me in the standings. I didn't get passed by any septuagenarians with walking sticks as in previous years though, which makes for a good race!
My legs felt pretty good at the end-- I still had some sprinting in me, which bodes well for future finishes in long runs and even a marathon in October, for which I finally decided to sign up after some waffling about the level of my commitment! I won't be training too hard for 26.2 miles until later in the summer so as to not get too burned out/injured, but it's pretty encouraging that I have seen myself get better at running (faster) even as I advance in years in middle age, and that I can wake up and run 6-10 miles without too much strain (I think this range is my sweet spot for running, to be honest! I don't enjoy the short, three-miles-or-less runs as it takes me a few miles to warm up, but half marathons or more do take a toll on my lower extremities and feet). After ibuprofen and ice, even my shins are doing well this year (the softer forest floor, compared to paved concrete trails, probably helps).
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