Hot Chocolate PR type of day –

Saturday morning was the Hot Chocolate 15K here in Dallas.  I have run the Hot Chocolate race up in Chicago (2010) before, but this is their first year having it in other cities.  The morning started off a bit rough because the parking situation was a mess, but other than that it was a great race.  A cold front moved in the night before the race to the point that the race director sent out an email encouraging the slower runners doing the 15K to drop down the 5K.  I think they should have just encouraged everyone to dress appropriately, but whatever.

The run started off pretty well.  I tend not to look at my watch during races and just run based on feel.  They did have clocks at every mile marker so I new I was running under a 9 minute pace.  I ran mile 4 in about 8 minutes flat and thought I was in trouble at that point.  That is a bit too fast for me in the first half of a race especially knowing that there was a hill at mile 5.  Pretty impressed that I was able to hang on and maintain under an 8:20 pace overall. 

Finishing Time: 1:17:03 (8:17 pace). 

All of my 5K splits were fairly consistent.  8:21; 8:11; 8:19

I had a variety of goals set for this race that as long as I hit one of them, I was counting it as a success.

A – I wanted to be under 85 minutes.  Which would put me on pace to be under 2 hours at a half, because really it is all about the halfs.

B -  Under 83 minutes which would be a new PR.

C – Under 80 minutes just to see if I could.  I waited until mile 7 to decide if I was going for this goal.  I had over 20 minutes to run the last 2.3 miles so I decided to go for it.  Guess I had a few minutes to spare J.

Afterwards it was time to hang out, have some fondue and some hot chocolate.  The after party in Dallas was definitely better than in Chicago.  We finished at the automotive building in Fair Park so all of the fondue and hot chocolate was INSIDE.  It was nice to be able to sit down, be warm and hang out.  They had a band and a DJ going.  People doing the Cupid shuffle and then a conga line.

Feeling good about the upcoming half marathons.  I really want to be under 1:55 for at least one of them.  And if I can – I would LOVE to break into the 1:40s.  If not, pretty sure I can break into the 1:40s this fall when I start training for the goofy challenge.