Race Recap: North Collier Regional 5k

Saturday concluded the Elite Events Summer 5k Series with the North Collier Regional 5k. This is 5k series is now in its 4th summer. Starting in the summer of 2010. I have done a couple Elite events. Not many. But this was the first time competing in the summer series.

Photo courtesy of eliteevents.org

What is a series you may ask? Well, you have to run 2 out of the 3 summer series races to be eligible for the over all series award. Or you could be really awesome and run all 3 races. Which is really cool. So you get points for every race you compete in. And if you place you get more points. The great thing about Elite Events is that they give awards 5 deep. So the top 5 in each age group gets recognized. I have a chance to be recognized which gives me an extra boost cause I wanna kick some butt.

This course was a really nice course overall. It is a local park, where there is a water park and soccer fields. It was very scenic. There was actually a soccer tournament going on while we where there. At some points in the course we had to make a couple of U-turns. My favorite part of the course was between mile 1 and 2 because it was like a swampy marsh. It was a bit humid but it was like running through a forest.

I felt really great starting out. The first mile I think my RunKeeper app told me I was running around an 8:30/mile. I remember thinking "SAY WHAT!" But the heat and Florida humidity got to me and I started to slow down. After mile two I took a one min walk. I have a interval timer strapped to my arm that is set to a 3:1 ratio. I tend to do speed work instead of a 1 min walk. I run normal for 3 mins and speed up for  a min.

At mile 2.5 we crossed a small bridge that was over a marsh. The bridge was a bit slippery from the morning dew and I started to slide a bit when we had to take a slight right turn on the bridge. By the time we passed mile 3 I could see the finish line in sight. The sun was already high in the sky and I forgot my racing sunglasses. I just kept telling myself, "Ky, you got this." and soon the finish line was insight.

I ran as fast as my little legs could take me. One of my co-workers was at the finish line waiting for me and cheering me on. She is awesome and runs so much faster than me! So nice to see a familiar face. After finish I felt a little over heated. I quickly grabbed a bottle of water and started pouring it on my arms, legs and splashed some on my face. I felt so much better after that.

I made my way down to the awards area and grabbed a banana on the way. I was proud of myself because I finished 31:18.8 and I ended up dropping 33 seconds off my last race time! Go me! I sadly didn't place in my age group. I placed 8th. I was just proud of dropping some much time off since my last race!

As I was getting ready to leave I heard my name called and found out I place 5th in my series of two races and won a series award! I felt like a rock star! All in all it was a great Saturday and a great race!

PS Shout out to Fit2Run! Love ya Kimmi!

I was a happy, happy, happy girl!

Until next time everyone! 

QOTD: Have you ever placed at a race or dropped some time?