This is the second post in a series to capture 3 races I did before the Ironman70.3 in Texas. This post is about the “10K Fit for Vitality”. Previous race report (5K Magnuson Series), following race report (Honeywagon Halfmarathon)

The second race I did this year, was the a 10K of the Fit For Vitality series on January 29th.

After the experience I had after the 5K riding home in a rainy/snowy weather, I was happy to accept the offer from Alex Stewart to drive me. It was again rainy and cold, but it makes a huge difference to arrive and leave in a heated car. Thanks Alex!

This race was a new experience for me. It was a smaller race and only a dozen people lined up close to the starting line. I talked to a few of them upfront to get to know their race expectations. The ones I talked to were doing the 5k, but mentioned about the same pace as I wanted to run for the 10k. The race was a 2.5k out and back on a street. Which meant for me that I would have to do 2 laps.

Start of the Fit 4 Vitality 5K & 10K

Once the race started I quickly settled into a pace with two ahead of me (both doing the 5K). So I was in 3rd position and eventually in 4th because a female 5K runner overtook me as well. At the first turn around after 2.5k I noticed that I was leading the race for the 10k since the immediate people behind me mentioned that they would do the 5K as well. That was the first time for me that I was leading in a race. Normally I am chasing down someone, but this time It was all up to me to keep a steady pace any motivate myself and not to get chased down by other runners.

At the 5K turnaround, I noticed that the field is stretched far apart. But I wasn’t sure who the next 10K runner was, but I knew that  there wasn’t anybody behind me for the next couple hundred yards. So all I did was focusing on my pace trying not to get any slower.

Awesome finish line picture 🙂

A while after I did the last turn around (7.5k). I saw Alex coming towards me and signaling a one (his way of telling me that I’m in first position), I in return gave him a two. From then on I knew, if I wouldn’t blow up, I would win this race. But than this race wasn’t about winning, it was mainly about a performance test so if I wouldn’t push to my limits I wouldn’t learn anything. So I steadily pushed harder till I reached the finish line with a max HR of 190.

Despite the cold, rainy and windy conditions I finished the 10K in 38:11. Alex finished second behind me. Even though it was a small race they had awards, where I received two medals. Fastest male and AG 20-39 winner. This is kinda cool! Good way to boost my medal count 🙂

Race Result

Run HR and Pace