Tuesdays on the Run and 5k race recap

Tuesdays on the Run Linkup:  (The linkup is hosted by Erika of MCM Mamma Runs, Marcia of Marcia’s Healthy Slice and Patty of My No-Guilt Life.  Don’t forget to visit their sites!!)   

The Tuesdays on the Run subject this week is FAVORITE HOMETOWN RACE.  It is difficult for me to choose because I am still a relatively new runner.  I love the Chevron Houston Marathon as it so motivational to see all the runners in the city and I love cheering them on on race day.  Since the race is in January, you never know whether its going to be warm, cold or just right.  This year the weather was a little on the cold side – which made it JUST RIGHT.  Molly Huddle, set an American record in the half marathon and apparently she also broke American records at the 10 mile mark and 20k mark (pending ratification).  I’ve cheered for the runners at the 17 mile mark for 2 out of the 3 past years, in 2016 and in 2018.

I also like the Houston Heights Fun Run 5k.  I’ve only run it one time – in 2016 – when it was raining, but its a nice local and flat 5k.  I like the fact that its been around for over 30 years and it begins and ends in a neighborhood park.  I really like local runs that are inclusive and family oriented.  It’s so great to see the community cheering on the runners and being supportive. In 2017, they added a 10k option!

Houston Wellness Project 5k Race Recap

On Sunday, I ran a free, chip-timed 5k hosted by the Houston Wellness Project (HWP).  HWP is a local charity that holds free 5ks in the Houston area twice a month.  On the first Sunday of the month, the 5k is at White Oak and on the last Sunday of the month, the 5k is at George Bush Park.  The 5k is family friendly and its pretty informal.  You sign up online and then just show up.  I think there was probably about 100 people for the race.

The course is an “out and back” run on an asphalt running trail.  There was a HUGE puddle just after the starting line that caused a little back up and then the course goes over two small bridges in the first quarter mile.  The puddle was NOT fun.  It was a little on the cold side and it wasn’t fun having cold wet toes from the very beginning of the run!!  Going over the bridge was also kind of strange as it moved up and down a little as many runners were going over it at the same time.

After the first 1/2 mile, the runners started to be more spaced apart.  It was fun seeing young kids of all ages doing their best and I was amazed at how fast some of them were running.  I kept to a slow and steady pace as my goal was to simply run the entire 5k without stopping.  I knew I could do it, as I’ve run weekly 5k runs with Shelley since late last year without stopping, but I wanted to know that I could do an actual 5k race without stopping.  (So as not to keep you in suspense…I did it!)

At the half-way mark, the organizers simply had an orange cone set in the middle of the path which you had to run around and then head back to the starting line.  Just after the cone, but off the path, they set up a water station for the runners.  I didn’t stop as I didn’t need any water and I didn’t want to stop my momentum.  At about 2 1/2 miles, I had to keep telling myself….don’t stop…don’t stop…don’t stop.  I sure wish that I would have had someone to run with me at this point because it would have distracted me.  I kept going, however, and was pleased when I finally saw the finish line.  And the only thing between me and the finish line was a MONSTER puddle!!  There was no way around it by this point, so I just ran through it!

I am very pleased at my results.  Not only did I run the entire time without a single walk break – BUT I also had a PR!   Yeah…that means that my TomTom gave me a trophy!!  I don’t actually have my “official” time yet from the race, but I know that it was a PR from my TomTom watch…so I’m claiming it!