There are still a few days left for us to complete the VIRA Island Race Series Synergy Health Management Bazan Bay 5K Virtual Challenge.
This is the last VIRA Island Race Series 2021 Virtual Challenge. Just like that, it has come to a close!
If you’ve ever done this race “in person”, you will recall how fabulously flat and fast the course is. Back in 2015, I ran a 5k personal best at this exact event. I look forward to the day that “in-person” racing returns where I will go back to training a bit differently to be able to run faster.
For most of 2020 and 2021, my focus has been on increasing my mileage but I have definitely slowed down to be able to do higher volume, while reducing the risk for injury.
The virtual challenge is as follows:
A. Run challenge: Run the flattest 5K you can on the road and/or trail (no track or beach runs allowed). Must be an out and back (2.5km each way).
B. Photo challenge: Take a photo/selfie that is related to health management (physio, massage, chiro, rehab, etc.)
People have been getting very creative with their photos for this challenge. It can be anything to do with health management or recovery. You can check out all the super fun photos from this challenge and the previous challenges on the VIRA-Island Race Series Facebook page. There are amazing photos on the page!!
Here’s how mine went down:
Run Challenge Overview
I knew that I wasn’t prepared to do a fast 5k, even if I ran the fastest and the flattest route. I haven’t done any speedwork recently, so I decided to run a slow 10k out and back on the Lochside Trail, which is very flat. I know that 5k of the 10k I did that day was super flat and would have been fast, if I was trained to run faster. Since I’m trying to run more miles per week, I had to do at least 10k the day I did the Synergy Health Bazan Bay 5K Virtual Challenge.
Therefore, I did 10k averaging 5:20 per km pace. I probably could have gone faster on at least 5k of it, but I’m glad I didn’t because I’m planning a big running challenge very soon.
Above: Strava Screenshot of my Run
Photo Challenge Overview
For my photo challenge, I decided to take a picture with my Travel Roller. When it comes to health management, foam rolling definitely offers a number of benefits. It can help relieve muscle tightness and soreness, as well as make your muscles more receptive to stretching.
I try to use the foam roller as much as I can (still not enough and I should be doing more). Foam rolling is definitely something you can do between your massage therapy sessions.
Above: Me and my Travel Roller.
Although this year’s racing season has been a lot different from what we are used to, I know that this entire series was a super fun challenge that tested both our fitness and our creativity. I’m glad that I’ve been able to be a part of it.
Keep an eye out for what’s happening with the VIRA Island Race Series on their website. I hope that we will be able to see each other in person in 2022. 🙂
Until next time…