Race Information

• Name: Lago Mar 5k
• Date: October 31st 2020
• Distance: 5km ( 200m)
• Location: Texas City, TX
• Time: 18:57 (18:17 for the 5km)

Goals

Splits

Training

Solid training block through the Texas summer - first time I've put myself through the mill for the entire summer and feeling in a pretty good place fitness wise. Just in the midst of moving onto an endurance block so good timing for a first 5k in 10 months! Would like a PR, but this is a new race and no clue what the course conditions are like.

Pre-race

Been suffering from breathing issues the last few weeks - suspected throat/chest infection (Covid tested negative) which had me floored the week before. Antibiotics seem to have kicked in so feeling pretty much back to normal, although little apprehensive about what a 5k effort would do.

Race was 40 min drive from where I live so hopped in the car and got there in plenty of time. Running in the new normal means small fields, masks everywhere and also very limited (to absolutely no) warm up space apparently. Usually do a 2k easy run before races like these but had to make do with some mobility drills and very low effort sprints on the fenced off grass area where we waited.

Running in my box-fresh OG Vaporflys (free Nike replacement pair after my previous pair disintegrated). Usually wouldn't bother for a small 5k like this but who knows when I'll next get the chance to race and I have a shoe backlog now!

Race

Small field and very quickly there's 3 of us at the front going a similar pace following the lead bike. Settle down into 3rd and focus on maintaining a relaxed form and breathing. First km comes up in 3:34 which is at the sharp end of what I was aiming for, but feeling good so take confidence in that.

After about 1.5km there's a sharp hairpin as the course cuts back on itself - as we turn we come into a bit of a headwind. I notice I'm gaining on the guy in front so I just maintain my pace and by the time we hit the 2nd km I'm into second.

We then hit a gentle right hander and I'm probably about 50m from the guy in first place. Given how I was feeling last week I'm honestly happy to just follow him and pick up a PR. The course turns back into the headwind and at about 3.5km I notice that the leader is moving a little laterally in the road, possibly feeling a bit tired.

I focus on maintaining my stride length and turn over and the leader starts to come back to me. With about 1.2km left I figure I may as well see what I've got so I pick up the pace a little and pretty soon I'm in the lead. With about 500m left I kick it up a notch and my legs respond, still feeling pretty easy - but not really sure where the course is going.

We hit a hard left about 300m from the end I head into the carpark which is a bit of a dust bowl but traction is fine. I punch it and follow the bike all the way to the finish line where my watch ticks over for the 5k - new PR...

...to then be told the finish is another 200m away back into the venue... so I attempt to kick again, navigating a couple of short turns and passing under the finish banner.

Post-race

I end up in first place by about 25 seconds which is a healthy amount to take out over the last 800m or so. Speaking with the rest of the field it sounds like everyone had it at 5.2km. Speaking with the race director it turns out they had to rejig the course last minute - hence the increase in length. Honestly, I'd take a slightly long race over a slightly short one any day.

Feels good to have been in a bit of a race and while it certainly wasn't an elite field (I'm not winning any of those anytime soon!) there was a bit of competition at the top. Any race is good quite frankly at the moment and I certainly appreciate the effort the organizers have gone to, to make this possible.

Free beer at the finish line and BBQ on the way home make it a pretty productive mornings work!

Made with a new race report generator created by /u/herumph.