Winter Park Road Race 10k - Run

There were over 3000 runners running on narrow, very often bricked, streets. Needless to say, it was really crowded! The first couple of miles were spent just trying to find some running room and getting around those that had put themselves too far in front. Even when things thinned out, it was crowded and I still had to squeeze by people at mile 5.5!!

After I found some room, I tried to pace off others. The weather was really playing havoc with me as it was stupid hot and humid. It seems we have skipped spring and gone right into summer and I have not acclimated to it yet. So, my effort level seemed much higher than my pace indicates. Every time i got my mile interval I was surprised by the number -and not in a good way :) Still I managed to keep a steady pace throughout the race. So, yay!

At about the 4.5 mile mark there is a "hill" and as I ran up I watched a woman pass me. This was discouraging as she runs in the pace group I ran in before my injury and I used to be faster than she. I resolved to try to keep her in my sights and within a short period was able to pass her. This must have rattled her, cuz she picked up the pace and passed me back! I stayed on her heels until the last half mile when she was able to pick things up some more and I could not hang.


nothing really.

drank water and walked back to the car.


I can't be too discouraged with the result as it was within 17 seconds of last year's time. This year's effort felt harder for some reason -I'm guessing my endurance is not at the same place and the weather was worse.