My performance in this race was determined by three factors....the running surface....the wind....and yesterday’s 15k race.

 

The race was sponsored by the Don CeSar, a local 5-star beach resort hotel. It was a small race with a field of about 150-200. The course was out and back and run on the beach. Fortunately, the tide was out, so there was a nice wide, hard packed surface. But, it was still sand. Not as hard as a road surface, so push offs weren’t as firm. As a result, I noticed myself running with a slightly shortened stride several times, especially when I got onto crushed shell surfaces instead of hard sand. The setting for this race was beautiful. Gorgeous sky with not a cloud in sight. Surf rolling in. A few early morning beach walkers and shellers.

 

The temperature at race time was 46 degrees with a wind chill of 29 due to a steady 15 mph wind blowing down the beach. The first half of the race was straight up the beach into the wind, which meant for a nice tailwind for the return down the beach.

 

I felt good after yesterday’s race. My legs were fine, but I kind of ran out of steam in the last mile. I think the combination of back-to-back races and racing on sand took a toll. I didn’t slow down. In fact, the last mile was one of the fastest of my second running life. But I didn’t feel as strong as I did at the finish of yesterday’s race. I felt less in control and more struggling than yesterday.

 

I ran 25:26 for an average pace of 8:11. My splits were 8:12 for the first mile due to a jack rabbit start, 8:24 for the second, and 8:49 (7:58 pace) for the last 1.1068 miles.

 

I was happy with this race. My time was only 9 seconds slower than my second running life 5k PR even though it was run on the sand. I think I would have PR’d if it had been on the roads.

 

It was a good weekend of racing. It’s the first time I’ve run races on consecutive days in 10 years. To do that and have both be good races is very encouraging to me.

 

Jim2

 

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