I started off WAY too fast. I had it in my mind that if I can hold a 7:00-7:15 pace for a 1/2 Marathon, I should be able to hold a 6:30 or less pace for a 5K. But, I started out faster than 6:30 and I held it for the first mile, and then slowed some the 2nd mile. At about 1.75 I heard some breathing behind me that was distinctly female, and for the first time in a race, I looked back..and sure enough, clad in pink was a gal just trucking. I held her off for a bit, but come about 2 mile she passed me at about the time my legs started yelling at me that "you ran a 1/2 Marathon last weekend" and "you did lots of lunges Thursday." Yep, leg fatigue set in...my gluteus maximus and hammies were not all that happy with me, and even though I was pushing hard, I couldn't close the gap with her. Then, 2/3rds of the last .5 mile were up an incline, and my wheels had fallen off...no overall win for me, and I knew it. But, I was okay with that. I still beat and passed plenty of guys, and that is always fun. The #3 woman overall was a pretty decent distance behind me. The girl that beat me did so by a good 12 seconds. So, 2nd overall, 1st in AG.

Not start off so fast. Not eat as much of a breakfast as I did. Not do tons of lunges on Thursday. BUT, besides starting off so fast, everything else was the result of other training and focuses I had. This wasn't an "A" race, it was a for fun race. I think it's important to support the Ft. Hood MWR in this as the more it is supported, the more they will do.

5Ks are a tough race for me because it's basically a sprint the whole time, I never get into a groove. While I can be somewhat speedy, I prefer to do it at an endurance pace. I think I hurt more post-5K than I do post-1/2 Mary. 3.1 miles, for me, isn't endurance and requires less of my slow twitch muscles and more fast twitch, and I think I'm more slow twitch. So, definitely a big fan of the 1/2 Marathon distance and more. 5K's are great speedwork though...and my HR for these has gone down over this year, so I think I can definitely say that my fitness has improved. I can do this faster, but only if I am not in training for something else or recovering from something bigger--and frankly, I like the "bigger." :)

I went straight to my car, put on my cycling gear, grabbed my bike, and then went to wait for the awards ceremony and subsequent group ride. Had several ladies ask me about my bike...they said they started road biking a year ago, and they've been trying to convince their husbands they need tri-bikes too!! :) It was a fun conversation. I have met several great Army folks at this event, and it's helped widen my circle for some training buddies.


Fatigued legs, starting off TOO fast.


For Ft. Hood, this is a great race. MWR keeps doing great things, and the enclosed tent for pre/post race was great considering the cold and overcast sky. They also implemented a colored bracelet concept to help capture times (no timing chips) and they just keep improving. T-shirts this time were long sleeve, and that's great for a free race.