Back in January I mentioned this race I signed up for. Remember? So, it finally came up, the Hot Chocolate 15K, on March 1. For those who don’t want to do the math, a 15K is 9.3 miles. Training-wise I had managed to get one 9-mile run in. It was hard, but done. At the 6-mile mark my ankles were beginning to ache, and knowing I had another 5K to go was kind of killing me, though I made it through. As the race course appeared to be a big uphill climb up Highway 99, I forced myself to incorporate a lot more hills, including THE HILL (NE 70th, between the Burke-Gilman Trail and around 45th Ave NE. Aiiyaah).
So anyway, I ran the HC with two other women, Rina and Trina. Yes. Tina, Rina and Trina ran the race. #Winning. Both of them are faster runners than I. My target was a 10:00 mi pace, and I hit it. More or less. Less.
Here are my unofficial splits, per my Timex:
- 10:10
- 9:41
- 10:01
- 9:57
- 10:14
- 10:31
- 9:05
- 10:14
- 11:37
- 3:29 (final .3)
Overall it felt okay. I passed on the first “treat” station. Chocolate chips, I think. At the 6-mile station, or whatever station they were doing strawberry marshmallows, I said what the hell and had one. It actually tasted really good. At around mile 6 you reach the turnaround point on Highway 99, and start going downhlll back towards the Seattle Center. That mile was my fastest and it felt great. Those final 2 miles were incredibly tedious. The downhill is not as downhill as you want it to be, and for me I was ready to be done. Now that I’ve reviewed my splits, I see that the final final mile was where I really tanked. I remember already suffering and there’s one final hill on Mercer Street. Like a lump more than a hill, but you’re running up it thinking to yourself, this is unfair!
Overall the race is a well-oiled machine. Parking wasn’t horrendous (we carpooled, parked far enough way that the walk to the course is basically a warm-up. Mildly long Honey Bucket lines. Good swag. Not as crazy-fun as Beat the Blerch, but at least it’s not in Carnation. And when else do you get to run around Hwy-99 and check out the gorgeous view of Lake Union from up high? That was pretty cool. These treats were cool, too
This pic is from Trina’s FB page. I finished the race long after R&T were done, so I too my chocolate platter to go, and got it share some of it with the kid. The kid now uses the cup as a bath toy. Not too shabby.
There was an early race start, like 8 AM. We were home by 10:30. I stretched, showered, then headed up to Bryant Corner Bakery for the weekend breakfast I had been craving.
That’s a lot of food. But I ran a race! And it was good. So good.
Yep. Here’s how I like to train:
https://instagram.com/p/zn3qhDouXp/
So, the lesson here is that the 10K is still my favorite race length. I hit my goals pretty much with the 10K in mind. Add that extra 5K and watch me flounder.
BUT…. I just learned that a college friend is coming out to Seattle this summer to run See Jane Run. Half-marathon. Soooo.
Nah.
Maybe.
I’ll decide in May.