Saturday, January 23, 2010

The Run The Woodlands 5K Race Report

20:48/5th place overall

This was a cool little event.  It is sponsored by Luke's Locker of the Woodlands and is run every 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month.  I left shortly after the finish so I didn't see the final results but I am guessing maybe 50 or so people ran?

Okay, the alarm when off at 5:40 am.  I got up and let the pugs out and made a smoothie and whole wheat bagel with peanut butter.  I was on the road by 6:45 and had one heck of a time finding the race start.  It was at Barbara Bush Elementary School in the Woodlands and my GPS in the car could not locate it.  I hate it when my GPS does this?  It found the road but the Woodlands is one of those Master-Planned Communities with harsh restrictions of signs and commercial buildings so I was just driving up and down looking for something because address markers are non-existent. I'd hate to be a mail person in the Woodlands.

Anyways, I found the place at 7:48am for the 8:00am start.  It turns out that was a perfect time to get there.  I parked 30 steps from the startling line and they had a sign up sheet and a box to toss your $1 into.  My type of race - no frills, just run! 

We walked up to the starting line and since I had no idea of the route I was trying to find a guy that looks like he was a 7:00/mile runner to follow.  BINGO!  Dude with the short "V-Cut" running shorts and a pair of Newton Trainers, thats my guy.  We started out and I am following Newton guy.  It seems like I may have missed judged him because he is haulin' ass at a sub-6:00 pace.  He was in the lead position and I tried to keep up with him and another guy but they were fast!  

I ended up finishing 5th overall, so I was passed by two other runners, and my Garmin time was 20:48.  The time maybe off some because at the end I missed a turn and cut through the parking lot to the finish line.  The course wasn't mark but I should have at the least checked the map before I began to run.   But my Garmin said it was 3.12 miles so I am good with my time and happy to finish under 21 minutes. 

Now off to breakfast and then some time on my Bike!

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

6 comments:

  1. Way to go Jeff! That's a nice way to start the day with a little speed work. I always say that i'd rather do a marathon any day than a 5K...5K's hurt, hurt, hurt! Kudos to you!

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  2. Good job, Jeff. Finish strong on the bike and call it a great day!

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  3. There was no doubt in my mind that you were going to go sub-21! I know it won't be long before you go sub-20!

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  4. wow below 21 minutes! I dream of doing times that quick congrats!. Share the speed work secrets :)

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  5. Thanks everyone!

    KC - they really do hurt don't they?

    Jason - no secrets just a bunch of miles on the legs. I do most of my running in aerobic zone and very little speed work.

    It will probably be a while before I can get down below 20 ... today was about my max effort and the last 1.5 miles hurt!

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