Lonestar Stampede 5k (Houston, Texas) – May 7
This was a fun local race right around the corner from me. It was offering $1250 to each male and female winner of both the 5k and 10k races. What did I have to lose since it was going to be part of my long training day! Well, I should have known that $1250 would bring lots of amazing runners out to race. I decided race morning that I was only going to run the 5k. I had been putting in some pretty hard runs in training and racing over the past few weeks so I though a quick 5k might be some nice relief. I got smoked…the winner was a Kenyan champion in the time of 16:23. I ran an 18:51 which was a PR for me (6:04/mile). Even with a decent time like that, I only placed 5th in my AG and was the 6th female overall. But I was happy with my performance and then continued the day with a long training day with Matt Russell – a 70 mile bike ride and an open water swim. Nice little Saturday.
Conn’s Green 6.2 (Houston, Texas) – April 23
I knew starting the race that there was some competition because I saw one of the girls that competed at the Conoco Phillips 10K with me…a young collegiate runner. I hadn’t done much speed work up to this point so I wasn’t really sure what I would be capable of running. And again, this race was being used as a training race since I had to go ride 75 miles immediately after the race. I felt pretty good during the race, settled into a nice comfortable pace and finished with a personal best 10k. I was 1st in my AG and was the 2nd female overall with a time of 40:31. Well, there are not many races I have done so it is becoming easier to PR each race. And I know that my time was not spectacular but as long as I am improving, I am moving in the right direction. But more importantly, my legs felt great during my long training ride post-race.
