Short And Sweet

This past Friday, Independence Day, I competed in the HRCA Independence Day 5K.  The circuit started and finished at the Highlands Ranch Town Center.  In the final moments before the race began, I was chatting with fellow Runners Roost teammate Bridget Tschappat.  We both commented on how hot it was.  We usually finish our morning runs before 8:00 (the start time for the race) and don’t run when it is that hot.

I had a revelation.  The last time I ran a 5 kilometer race was about 20 years ago.  It was an evening race in Denver’s City Park.  I don’t recall my time, but I remember it was the first, and only, time I ran under 5:00 for a mile.  That was the first mile, of course, and I finished the race gasping for air, sounding like a sea lion. 

Man, I could get used to 5 Ks.  The race is half over before you break a sweat or feel any discomfort.  If you go out too fast, you only suffer for a mile or so.

  

The hrcaonline.org web site boasts a “total ascent of 80.13 ft”, though MapMyRun shows a total of 121 feet of climbing.  What’s 41 feet amongst friends?  Most of that climbing comes in what race organizers call “shake & bake hill” which the runners climb at mile 2.  There is also a 2/3 mile climb from Broadway & Highlands Ranch Parkway to the finish. 

Here is the map of the course:

I really shouldn’t complain about the climbing as it feeds into my strength.  Since I have little speed, I took advantage of those hills and passed a few runners on them.  I finished 11^th overall – 1^st in my new 50 – 59 year age group – with a time of 18:48.

Saturday my younger daughter and I participated in the 2nd annual MHM Cancer Sucks Freedom Swim.  I paced my daughter to a second place finish for female swimmers – the first female sans-wetsuit.  Here is a photo of me with both of my daughters at last year’s event.  Aren’t they beautiful?