Chevy's Fresh Mex 12K

Member

The week leading up to this race was a pain - temps were in the 100s, the a/c at work was broken, and I'd been feeling cranky, tired and slow, in that order. In addition, the organizers didn't post maps of the all-new course for this year until a few days beforehand, leaving most people little opportunity to check it out.

Our heat wave went away abruptly on Saturday, leaving near-perfect weather for a race - high 50s and overcast. Lots of confusion over the location of this year's start, judging by the number of people who appeared to be driving around lost as I neared Discovery Park.

Maps of the new 5K & 12K courses were posted near the reg tables, with more than a few runners studying them intently as start time neared. Despite the statement on the website that, "These races will start on time!", they definitely didn't - the 5K ended up 20 minutes late, and I had people asking me where to register 5 minutes before the eventual start.

Since the 12K was scheduled to start 30 min. later, that meant lots more waiting (and rendered my warmup semi-useless).

Finally, we got underway just before 9:00 - shuffle past the start line, up a decent-sized hill, then through a business park. Out onto Garden Highway for mile 1 - 10:42. Not good - don't know if it was the crowds, or what. I skipped the first water stop, then got so intent on trying to get a decent pace going that I missed the mile 2 marker completely. Confused

Miles 3 - 6 were all paved bike trail, then back into the park for that same hill again. Unlike the old point-to-point course, this year's brought you within sight of Chevy's before having you hang a u-turn.
This took the wind out of some people's sails, realizing that there was close to a mile left, so I was able to pick up a few places.

Back into a business park that was part of last year's 5K course, I hear someone behind me that sounds like they're flying. She passes me, I crank it up to follow, and we both see the mile 7 marker at the same time, along with the last hill right after it. We traded a few words of encouragement, passed a guy on the hill, then came out onto the flat for the run to the finish. I managed to kick it and pass her in the last 1/4 mile, and we traded congratulations as they took our numbers.

Final: 10:42/19:53 (miles 2 & 3)/9:41/9:44/9:43/9:16/3:51 = 1:12:50 (new PR).

Last year, I struggled with the 5K in the heat; this year, I finished the 12K feeling strong. Big fun, and free fajitas - not a bad day at all.