My goal was to not start too fast or wear myself out in the large uphill portion that kicks off the race. I would use mile 1-2 to assess how I feel and adjust accordingly and then push through the final mile and attack the bigger hill at the end.

I started off steadily up the first hill. It leveled out briefly before a sharp turn and another hill which brings you to the 1 mile mark. A quick peak at my HRM showed me in the 170s, right where I wanted to be. I picked up the pace slightly from mile 1-2 as my heart rate stuck in the mid 170s. I hit the 2 mile mark feeling good. At this point I couldn’t remember how many more big hills were left to climb. Definitely one more than I was expecting. I pushed through the pain knowing the home stretch was downhill. I picked up the pace and finished strong. Crossed the line 1:30 faster than my baseline 5K in November and on a hilly course to boot.


Felt like I raced a smart race. I was comparing my HR data from my November 5k and I noticed my average and peak were both higher (178 avg, 188 max), so maybe I had a little left in the tank but I felt very happy with my performance. Very excited to see how my stand alone 5K compares to my run time during the triathlon, especially if the run is a flatter course.

Always room for improvement. I need to amp up the interval and hill training.


Great race. Fun and challenging course. Great neighborhood feel. Props to the excellent volunteers, especially the local servicemen and women who directed runners and stopped traffic during the race.