Once the three Master's females were removed, I was bumbed up to win 2nd place AG! Finished 19 out of 179 total female (10.5%).

This was my very first race EVAH after completing the Couch to 5K program last year, so I was very excited to do it again. I was not able to train properly for about a month prior to the race do to knee and arch issues so I had no idea what to expect. I NEVER expected to break 8 min miles! This was definitely a PR for me. I was a full 6 min faster this year than last year.

I wore my old faithful Mizunos that have over 400 miles on them because I'm suspicious of my new Brooks being the cause of my recent health issues. My knees and my arch felt great today. But my lungs were about to explode! I was definitely outside of my comfort zone and really had to dig deep to keep going. I felt nearly to the point of hypervetilating. I surely remembered my fellow BTers talking about it being mental effort and being able to push through the discomfort. My strategy was to take off hard and HANG ON! I truly wanted to stop. But stopping was not an option unless it was to puke or pass out.



Nothing really.

Walked it off and stretched, then went for a 2 hour "recovery" bike ride!


Nothing, other than maybe spending more time on speed work. I've been running LSD all winter and truly had NO idea what I could do with a short sprint.


This is probably the best race I've ever done as far as the setup/activities. They have a whole family festival going on with vendors, kids play area, and a chili cookoff. I hope to do this race every year. It means a lot to me because it is the race that started me on my current path which will hopefully lead to Ironman. But it all started with this little ole 5K in Lumberton!