Don McCloskey 5k

We watched the weather a few days before signing up for the Don McCloskey 5k in Pensacola. It's been unseasonally warm this year. The deadline to sign up was getting closer and closer and there was only online registration available. The forecast was in the 60's on raceday; I was so excited. So...we signed up at the last minute. The week of the race, the forecast completely changed - upper 70's, lower 80's!! I was just sick. Summer races are totally out due to the heat and humidity and now we've signed up for a race that's going to be just that. Okay...I decided to go and enjoy it. I knew it was a large race and there would be a ton of people so I wouldn't be last coming in regardless of how hard it would be to run.

The morning of the race came and there was a little overcast to start the race but it quickly dissipated. I did my best and tried not to worry about anyone or anything else. I was hoping to do better in this race than the one I did earlier in the month but not sure now. The course is a good one with one section of a grade that's a little tough but it's short lived and the rest is totally flat.

I knew my friend, Moe, was going to be there but hadn't seen her yet and she didn't know I was going to be there. I started a little further back in the pack since there were so many people. After the first mile was over; I had run the entire mile and was still running. It wasn't long before Moe snuck up behind me. I had no idea she would be behind. We ran together a little while but I stopped for water and she eased on. She ended up having a good race but was one out from placing. Hated that for her. I finished "okay"; not what I had hoped for. Kent did pretty good placing 2nd in his age group. Go, Honey!

When we got home, I downloaded my watch and was pleasantly surprised. My first mile was great! I hadn't done that well in a long time. The other splits weren't as strong. I walked more but much not as long as I did in the last race. When it was all said and done, I had beat my time by 2:06! I was shocked. And, needless to say, very happy. TWO minutes faster!! Not a wash out at all. 

I hope I can keep strong. I do believe my trekking class is really helping me get strong. I look forward to it twice a week. I wish I loved biking like I love running and swimming as much as biking. Guess everyone has their "first love". Don't get me wrong, I still love my Trek bike and am so glad I chose to get a good road bike. It makes it more fun to ride than ever before.

My plan is to work on solid running and, second, to increase my miles to improve endurance for the half coming up at the end of the year. I got in 8 miles last week. Whatever your running goals are, never give up and keep going forward and last of all go

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