Intensity!

Total intensity! Loved it!!

 INTENSE! Is the first word I said after I finished this first race of the 2011 season. I am typically a distance athlete and haven't done just a 5k race for a long, long time. I decided this past week that since I was already going to be doing a long training ride in Greenville, SC on Saturday, that I might as well add a 5k race to the training plan for that day. I thought it would be a good kick start to the season for me and would get those fast twitch muscles moving again.

 

Downhill finish, sweet!

 The Downtown Greenville 5k race was a perfect choice for my race season opener! The race was very well-organized with almost 1800 runners. It was so cold, in the 20s, at the start of the race, that I took as much time as I could just running back and forth to stay somewhat warm. Unfortunately, I placed myself behind about 1000 people in the starting line... and really regretted that as I tried to run my first mile. My first mile was the slowest at a 7:22 pace. I had a difficult time trying to get around people, there was just so many of them! After the first mile, I was able to pick up the pace and get in a nice groove for my 2nd mile, even thought it was uphill I was feeling strong and great. After I saw the 2nd mile mark at 13 minutes, I was thinking, wow, I only have one more mile left... I gotta get going here. I picked it up as much as possible but the headwind and cold was quite challenging to keep a flowing rhythm.

Everything is frozen! Brrr! 20s at start of race!

Almost 1800 runners lining up for race start!

After we rounded the corner at the top of the Main Street, I saw that it was going to be a downhill to the finish line. Yippee!  For this time of year, I was pleased to come out with a 2nd place AG win out of 134 girls in my Age Group. The distance athlete in me really had a hard time getting going til that 3rd mile, but it was so intense and fun and I was so glad that I did it. Immediately after the run it was time to really get some good training in, so I joined in with the good folks at the Carolina Triathlon shop and did the Winter Bike League Ride. We rode a good, steady 63 miles in the blustery cold. I felt great all through the ride and am glad I was able to get all that training in especially in January! My base training is coming along and I am getting excited that I get to start racing more and more!