Race #217
5k #64
2023 Race #12
2023 5k #5
Green Line 5k #11
The opportunity to run this race came up more quickly than usual race plans but I really liked the idea of this 5k on a new portion of the Swamp Rabbit Trail.
Mom and I headed out early enough to pick up our bibs and get in a warm up mile. I had 6 miles on the plan so I wanted to get as close to that as possible.
I’m glad we had the chance to get in this mile because it shows that the last portion, a smaller side trail up to the park area where the race started, was a lovely little uphill to finish the race on.
I started thinking about what pace I wanted to aim for. I knew I could hold a faster pace because the day prior to the race, I easily held an 8:50 pace. I settled on aiming for an 8 minute pace. Part of me contemplated going faster but I did not want to get too greedy.
The race started on an attempted time trial sort of format with a few people going every few seconds because of the slightly smaller trail portion before it joined the full size trail.
That uphill portion I mentioned before gave us quite the downhill to start the race. I had to hold myself back a little so that I would not go out too fast and flame out.
Once we joined the main trail, I settled into a pace that I knew pushed my limits a little bit one that I hoped to try to maintain throughout all three miles.
I also wondered how high up on the standing a I would get, something nice about small races like this. I knew that at least one girl had started ahead of me and another passed me shortly after the downhill. She stayed within sight though so I concentrated on gradually reeling her in.
I knew I was going faster than 8 minute pace and loved seeing 7:32 pop up on my watch for the first mile split.
Around that first mile split, I pulled a little ahead of the woman I had been chasing. When I did so, I shifted my attention to the turn around and checking the standings. I also had some lovely headwinds to deal with around this portion as well. This part of the trail was fairly open and included the only road crossing. (Thankfully, the race had it blacked off with cops at the crossing to direct traffic.)
About three tenths before the turn around I passed the first place runner (going the opposite way of course). Each step brought me closer without seeing the first female until a little over a tenth remained. She was the only one ahead of me. I knew I wouldn’t be able to catch her so I made my goal staying in second or potentially third.
I did not look forward to the hairpin turn on the trail but I quickly got back up to speed and started looking to see how far ahead of third I was. Not much. She was also joined by another woman who looked to be increasing her speed.
Only a little after that I saw Mom who also ran really strong.
Things started to feel difficult around this point. We no longer had to fight the headwind which I was thankful for.
Mile 2 – 7:40 (not too shabby l, especially with the hairpin turn and the headwinds at the start of the mile)
I knew I had only a mile left and even though my legs started to get tired, I knew I could hold on.
Early on in this mile, that other woman I saw earlier passed me, moving really well.
Remarkably, my uber competitive nature did not kick in to try to chase her. I knew what I could do, feeling confident that I could hold that pace. If I tried to chase her, I risked blowing up. (The final results proved the wisdom of that decision.)
As we got closer to the turn back onto the side trail, I glanced back a couple times to see if I could see the fourth place woman. I knew that my legs would be unlikely to hold the same fast pace on that uphill and I wanted to make sure that I had enough space so that I wouldn’t give up my podium spot. I didn’t see her.
That last third of a mile felt incredibly difficult.
Somehow I managed a 7:42 split for that last mile, thankful that I did not have to sprint up the hill.
As we came around the final curve and I could see the race clock, I wondered if I could get under the finish line before 24 minutes ticked over. I didn’t quite make it but that did not bother me.
I finished in third place, super pleased with my time. A minute and a half later Mom came in, 10th woman overall!
Then I checked the race results and remembered the rolling time trial start.
I made it under 24 minutes after all!
Overall – 23:50!
I really loved this race and it’s almost perfect course. (I wish they could have finished on the trail itself.)
Now training for Houston officially starts! (As over the day after the writing of this post. )