Back to Back Races

              Back to Back Races

Well this weekend I did something I have never done before. I ran back to back races.

My first race was on Saturday and was the Frosty Frozen a 5 mile run. The course starts in Hudson Gardens and then goes out on the bike trail and ends in Hudson Gardens. It was an absolutely gorgeous day to run in Colorado. I was beginning to feel that I am getting my endurance back. I fueled before the race,fueled during the race and I actually felt good on this race and ran with no issues until Mile 4. Mile 4 was tough mentally, but I pushed thru and was able to finish strong with a time of 56:00 minutes even.

Sunday, I ran the Polar Bear 5K. One of the things I am working on it starting out slower and finishing stronger or faster (in runner's lingo that is what they call negative splits). Well Sunday I let the excitement of this race and psyched myself out thinking it is a 5K and I rocked 5 miles yesterday so this should be a piece of cake - right?!?! Uh NO!!!! I started out way too fast and I knew I was in trouble at the start of mile 2 - had to walk a little. 

Thank goodness my Coach came to run with me. Stephon encouraged me throughout the race and inspired me to finish strong. I can not say in words how mentally tough this run was. Even my coach was saying that when it was done I would be celebrating about how strong and tough I was. My only comment back to him was "If I finish", because honestly at that moment I was struggling mentally with could I finish. But finish I did and guess what a new Personal Record. 33:28 with an average mile of 10:48. WOW!! Can you say surprise!! This Turtle was just SHOCKED!! I never in a million years thought my time would be that good after struggling through this race.

 Moral of this blog is the tough races are probably the Runs you will remember and appreciate the most. I will always remember the feeling of seeing my time as I crossed that finish line and realizing what I had just achieved. It will be one of those memories I will always remember, like my first 5k, my first half marathon - now I have my first PR after tough back to back races. I also know that I have a long way to go. Yes I am moving forward with my running and my training, moving at a Turtle Speed towards my first marathon. Once again thanks for joining me on my journey.