Mardi Gras Mambo 15K – Race Recap – February 4, 2023

Intro

Mardi Gras Mambo here we go!  This is one of my favorite local races.  Going in I didn’t plan to run this one at race pace.  I intended heading into this race to keep it under 12:00 minute pace and 11:00 minute pace if I was feeling froggy.  I want to run this race feeling strong all the way throughout.  I generally don’t like standing around before a race so I was I get to the starting line the Ainsley’s Angels are starting the race.  SO I had about another 5 minutes before the next wave of starts.  The gun goes and we are off!  

Mile 1 – 11:00

You know my plan so of course I go out running faster than 12:00 minute pace.  At this time the pace doesn’t feel too fast so I let it ride.   My thought is if this is too much I’ll throttle down after the bridge and just knock off 12:00 minute miles.   I started further back than i normally would in a race.  So there was a lot of weaving in the first mile.  I managed the bridge pretty well.  It didn’t break me.  Mile 1 marker is coming up up and I feeling good!  First water station I went with water.

Mile 2 – 10:54

Yeah 12:00 minute pace is out the window.  No real plan at this point other than just holding the current pace for as long as possible.  Parker Blvd. is always scenic coming off the bridge.   The trees are just so majestic.  I’m still feeling good I run with a member of Black Men Run for a bit, but I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to commit to the pace yet.  So we run side by side for awhile, but I him let go eventually.  I kept him and another lady in sight just as quasi rabbits.   

Mile 3 – 10:49

Kleinart Ave.  here we go.  I’ve blown up on many a race on this street.  It also has a slight incline.  I was not appreciative of that incline either.  I linked back up with the member of Black Men Run.  I said to him I had been chasing him basically the whole time.   He said he’s chased me in other races.  So we unofficial are running together until somebody falls off or we hit the finish.  Finishing up mile 3 I can see the 10k turn around.

Mile 4 – 10:54

At this point it’s unclear if my running partner is doing the 10k or 15k.  I was assuming the 10k and I was thankful he was gonna make me run faster.   Also kinda weary about the extra 5k I coming though.  I also popped my first GU in this mile.   I wanted to take them every 30 minutes ish.  I was a little off with the timing.  At the next two water stations I went with Powerade to get some extra calories, salt, and electrolytes.

Mile 5 – 10:57

This mile things are getting interesting.  If I was doing the 10K I would be ecstatic.   I am still feeling good the deep waters of the 15k are looming.   Another trip over the bridge is coming in the next mile.   We are still ticking off sun 11:00 minute miles though.

Mile 6 – 10:39

Here we go things I learned about my current running partner.  He runs the bridge way different than me.  He didn’t slow down at all.   I don’t know if he was testing me or what but I was like I will keep going.  Then just hang on for the last 15k.  Another water station I get a Powerade

Mile 7 – 10:41

I split from my running partner.  He is going finish up the 10k and I have another 5k to do.  I am feeling decent at this point.  Not really boink but I’m definitely feeling the fade or maybe just the lack of a partner/pacemaker who knows.  I tick another sun 11:00 minute mile all on my own though.  So we will see what the back third of this race holds.  I see the Capitol up ahead.   Running down Fourth Street towards the Capitol is always motivating and cinematic.  Just a stunning view!  I hit the water station.  I get a cup of water and take my second GU.

Mile 8 – 11:00

At this point I’m feeling and just trying to make sure I keep my pace under 12:00 minutes.  Running around Capitol Lake is usually a good view, but I’m just trying to hold it together so I’m not taking it in.   This mile felt so long running in the State building parking lot felt like it would never end.  This felt like the most difficult part of the race I was still running away from the finish line.  So I was waiting on the turn around.  Eventually we get there and there is only so much race left.  I find some hope in it’s not an exact out and back course.  The run to the finish will be shorter then the first part of the last 5k.

Mile 9 – 11:22

I find a little a bit of energy to prevent a complete boink.  I passed a lady who we were going back and forth for awhile in the last mile or two.  She passes me back and doesn’t look back.   I start thinking I’ll let her go then kick closer to the finish.  She is having none of that.  She takes off and I give up on that goal lol.  I am in just finishing as strong as possible so nothing above 12:00 minute pace.  I see my wife on the sidewalk up ahead and she runs with me for a block.

It was so special she did that and totally unexpected.  

The Finish – 10:41

We still have some in the tank so we sped up to finish this thing off strong!  At this point nothing else matters just to get to the finish line.  Once I turned off Fourth Street I was so thankful for how close the finish line was the race was basically over and made my way across the line!  With a finish time of 1:42:49.  I crushed my original goal, but also felt like I have more to give.  So here’s to more training!  Let’s go!  I want to keep progressing and have a good showing at OLOL Amazing Half in March.

Fat Boy 5k – Race Recap – April 9, 2021

Starting Line

Back at the starting line of the Fat Boy 5k the last one was in 2019.  I ran that on April 19, 2019 in a time of 29:23.  I looked up what the pace was to earn a mug then.  Mugs are given to the Top 150 men and women of the race.  From the 2019 times I would need to run around 8:30 per mile pace to get a mug.   I think I definitely have that time in me.  So we will see how it goes.  At the starting line in the past I would just fit in somewhere towards the middle  but today I pushed as far forward as I felt comfortable.   I overheard people talking about 7:50/8:00 minute pace around.  That made me kind of nervous while I feel like I have those times in me.  I have not really ran 5k paces in my training in the last twelve weeks of training.  On a random three mile run I decided I wanted to finish it under 30 minutes.  Aside from that it’s all been easier pace half marathon/marathon efforts.   

First Mile – 8:50

The race is off!  I’m on pace to put myself in mug contention.  This pace is feeling a little hot I feel my heart being a little elevated.  I want to do this so I just go with the pace.  It feels like I’m playing with fire.   Also I completely forgot this race isn’t flat!  So I’m running way faster than normal and here come some hills.  Why would they put that there.   Through the half mile mark I’m at 8:40 mile pace.  I set my Garmin at half mile splits just to get more alerts as a distraction.  At this   point I am thinking this might not be the race for a mug.  I’m falling off pace but I’m still giving an effort because I want to see where my 5k time currently is.

Second Mile – 9:23

The course is out and back so once I have done the first half of the second mile I know what to expect because we loop around and do it again.  In the second mile I start wondering if there will be any water stations in the race.  The day
before I definitely didn’t drink enough  water, and I’m paying for that now.   I kind of sync up with a random runner and we kind stick together for a bit.  We seem to both be on the struggle bus, but there is no quit in us.  At this point I know a mug is probably out of reach.  Maybe there is a little hope if the if it’s a slow field.  Mile 2 I start seeing other runners earlier in the race since it’s out and back.  Seeing others putting in effort always motivates me.

Third Mile – 9:38

Mile three in the past I would be sad that I did not earn a mug.  Post the pandemic though I have been working hard to improve my fitness.  Regardless mug or no mug I am happy with my effort on the day.   After running a half marathon last weekend three miles seems like it goes by in a flash.   I’m tired but at this point there isn’t much race left, and I can dig deep to make sure I come in under 30 minutes.  This mile has been my slowest.  It was still under 9:39 pace so we looked in the sub 30 minute finish.   The finish line is in sight so I give it a little gas to bring it home.   They are stilling handing out mugs for women finishers.  
Finish Time 28:52.8 5K officially,  I am completely happy with that my last 5k I finished with a time of 31:39 at the Baton Rouge Turkey Trot.   A nice improvement and sub 30 minutes!   I am setting a goal for next year to finish the Fat Boy 5k under 20 minutes.  I am getting a mug I promise!  I had a great time though my parents joined me for this 5k and that was a welcomed addition.

Billy Cannon 5k – Race Recap – December 5, 2021

Intro

Welcome, This post will dive into my experience at the Billy Cannon 5k on December 5th 2021.  This was my fourth year doing this race!  I have only missed this race once due to the pandemic but we are back in full effect baby finishing on the 50 yard line and everything!  I had been planning this race for months.   It’s so surreal  that it is finally here!  I want to set the stage initially I was all set to run the Tiger 10k with my LSU Speedflex Helmet on.  I had been training and I am in 10k shape for sure.  A couple weeks before the race I tried on the LSU helmet and it was a little tight.  So I decided I’d only run the 5k instead to save my self from riding the struggle bus for too long in the football helmet.  This decision was based on the fact I decided to never try running in the helmet until race day.  I didn’t want to suffer through 6 miles when I was just out to have some fun.  

The Start

It was beautiful foggy fall morning on Louisiana State University’s campus.  Seeing Tiger Stadium as I walk up to the starting line was so cool.  I hadn’t put the helmet on yet I wanted to minimize the time I had it on my head.  Once I did it was so cool taking pictures with people at the start.  I am fully LSU’ed up with my race day outfit from LSU Pegasus 38’s, Joe Burrow Home Jersey, Yellow running shorts that were difficult to find, and my LSU Riddell Speedflex Helmet with visor.  The race MC cues up the national anthem.  After we start loading up the starting corals.  The race start was staggered to spread out the race participants.  A short wait and I’m at the starting line ready to go!

Mile 1

I want y’all to know I’ve never run in this helmet.  So getting into mile 1 I go out way too fast at a point I was running 9:06 pace with a LSU football helmet and visor on.  My running fitness has steadily been improving lately and without the helmet I would not rule out that pace.  With it a whole different story.  At this point Ican hold the pace, but I felt like this might be too fast.  It is getting harder to breathe and the visor on the helmet is beginning to fog up.  I can still see through it but my vision is definitely impacted.  The 5K and 10K split is approaching and I am thankful  I chose the 5k option at this point lol. We hit the LSU lakes and I have slowed the pace down to something more manageable.  The lakes are always picturesque and so motivating to help you run fast.  I need to take advantage of the Lakes for running more often. 

Mile 2

I come up on a water station.  I must have been distracted by the absurdity of running in a football helmet because the concept of getting water mid race slipped my mind entirely.  I came through and grabbed a cup. I then realized how will I get this water to my mouth with this facemask.  In the moment I decided I will just throw it towards my mouth and hopefully get enough in lol.  I tossed my cup in the trash and kept on running.  I see an ad for a race along the LSU lakes.  My visor at this point is too foggy to make out signs while running.   I still need to find out what race that was.  I couldn’t find it on RunSignUp.com.  Mile 2 I am fully in the muck of a foggy visor and the helmet is just full of hot air from my breathing.  

Mile 3

At this point I am over the novelty of running a 5K in a football helmet.  Let’s just finish this race.  While my visor is fogged up I am being extra cautious avoiding potholes in the street.  I eventually find one and turn my ankle, but I don’t know if I have some weird ankle genetics.  Because when I turn my ankles I never get any pain after.  At this point I start to see some 10k runner’s zooming by.  I want those faster paces one day.  I’ll keep working one day we will get there.  The football helmet is definitely not built for prolonged activity it is so hard to breath in there.  I probably should have taken the visor off but it just looks so cool!  As far as running this mile it was just let’s get back to Tiger Stadium and wrap this up lol.  In this mile I got shouted at by people passing by so much!  Me being super introverted I felt there excitement but also in my head I’m like nothing to see here lol.  My lovely wife was also posted up in this last mile to take pictures of me during the race so thankful for her.  

The Finish

I finally see the mile 3 sign!  Nothing left but to turn into Tiger Stadium and celebrate!   As you make your way in it’s just a bunch concrete and concession stands but once you hit the tunnel to  the field it’s electric!  Even with no one in the stands or anyone cheering you specifically it’s awesome! From the finish line corral with the LSU flags blowing in the wind,  or Tiger Stadium/the field, or the fog the finish of this race is just one of the best!  How could I forget smacking the “Win Bar” while crossing the finish line!   This race never disappoints.  A beautiful campus and awesome finish line.  I will definitely be back next year!