Inching closer to my PR at a weekend 5K

After I ran up a hill and turned to make my way toward the finish of the National Press Club Beat the Deadline 5K on Saturday, I noticed the clock showed less than 23 minutes.

I kicked it up as much as I could at that point -- I have only finished one other 5K in under 23 minutes, and that was back during high school cross country in 2007. My personal record for the 5K is 22:41.

It ended up I didn't run a new PR, but I did run my second best time ever. I earned a chip time -- the time from when I crossed the start line to the finish line -- of 22:45.

I also got a small group to participate in the race with me as the Delmarva Media Group team. Delmarva Media Group includes The Daily Times and weekly publications throughout the Lower Shore, southern Delaware and the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Susan Parker, community conversations editor, and Connie Morrison, a former Eastern Shore News reporter, each ran their first 5K at Saturday's event. It was really fun to see them finish, and I had even done some preparation with Susan ahead of time. I am proud of both of them.

I'm looking forward to Delmarva Media Group's next group running experience, at the HERO Day 5K, to be held in Salisbury on Nov. 8. We already have more people planning to participate in that one.

At Saturday's race, it was fun to be in Washington, D.C., and around all the other reporter teams. I especially liked the shirts U.S. News and World Report had, which had a logo they normally use for rankings, but instead had to do with "Best Runners."

It was nice to be able to run past the Capitol and see the Washington Monument in the distance during the 5K course. I really liked the medal I earned last year for coming in third in my age group, and I wanted to get another medal. I motivated myself to put a strong effort forward; and I felt like I pushed myself more than I have in previous 5Ks this summer.

I was surprised to find out I'd come in first in my age group, and I got a gold medal with a newspaper on it, which I really liked. I actually finished second among the 28 people in my age group; the fastest person who was in the 20-24 female age group was in the Top 3 overall.

There was a pancake breakfast inside the National Press Club afterward. I was really happy we were able to get a team together and that I was able to return to the race for the second year.

I saw a Tweet on Twitter indicating the course could have been short, based on what watches tracked. I wasn't wearing a watch, so I guess I'll never be sure, but of course I hope the route was in fact 3.1 miles.

Either way, I will be able to test my speed in less than two weeks at the 5K Run/Walk for Wor-Wic, to be held in Salisbury on Sept. 20.