For the 2nd year in a row, I have kicked off my early spring training/racing season by switch gears and jumping into the runners world. I figured It would be some good cross training early in the season and so far seems to be working out well. So in the past few months I have been ramping up for the Leprechaun Loop 5k in Port Huron Sponsored by the YMCA. My goals were to have fun, not hurt myself and try to break my time of 21:56 from last year.
I started out slower than last year and wanted settle into a good pace. It worked but there were 20-30 mph head winds for most of the race. Luckily the rain stayed away, but the wind made it a difficult race for everyone. As I came through the home stretch I could start to see the clock and about 25 yrds out. From there I seen 21:52, 21:53, 21:54.... I was out of it for my goal. But I did come in at 22:16. Only 20 seconds off my best of last year. Not bad considering the horrible head winds, my lack of training to be a runner, and this being my 2nd 5k ever. Overall this put me 30th out of some couple hundred people, and it was enough to nail another 2nd place in my age group! I'll take it... Especially for not being a runner.
So my sights are now set on mountain bile racing, and I will be kicking it off this season with Barry-Roubaix! I can't wait. 35 miles of paved to sandy to gravel roads with 2200 ft of climbing. I have a rest week scheduled ahead of me. And then I turn on my training with the Time Crunched Training Program. I have been feeling real good, and am hoping for some better results than last year... But time will tell.
