Melon Run Recap

Saturday morning my BRB and I took off around 6:30am to join a few other running friends in Monticello, Fl for the annual Melon Run 5K. We orginally planned to run this race with Jenny from http://runningtheraceb4me.com; however, she had an emergency back procedure that was more painful that any of us imagined. (Jenny, you will come back stronger. We will run that first race with you when you're ready! Just remember Hebrews 12:1, sister!) 

If you've read my blog recently then you know I set a UA What's Beautiful goal of finishing my next 5K in under 28:00 minutes. I have heard about this race for a few years but was never able to run it. We knew the course was hilly and it's always hot in North Florida this time of year. We took our pre-race photos and headed for the start line at the corner of US 90 and Water Street. The whole group commented on the heat and the hills, we all agreed just to go and have fun! 

Tallahassee - Moms Run This Town 

The race began promptly at 8:15am. The course took us through a beautiful shaded neighborhood. We enjoyed a few hills right at the beginning of the race! We continued on through more neighborhoods and at one point we transtioned from pavement to gravel to sand to gravel back to pavement! This made me nervous so I paid careful attention to my footing so I wouldn't slip on the gravel. At the half way point I was running just under a 9 minute mile so I knew I was in reach of my goal. Then we encountered the hills that everyone warned us about. WOW! We turned right went uphill then turned left only to go a little further uphill before getting a nice downhill. Then we turned right back onto Water Street. We finished uphill on Water Street. I could see the clock and I pushed hard; however, I missed the sub-28 by 3 seconds. 

Uphill on Water Street 

Not all race pictures can be good ones, struggle is written all over my face! 

The push to the finish... 28:03

At the finish line everyone was talking about those hills! At first, I was a little bummed that I missed my goal by 3 seconds. That feeling quickly faded when I realized how great my body felt. For the first time in months my leg wasn't sore at all! I know I am getting stronger. I know I am consistently faster than I was 6 months ago. All in all it was a fun race and 28:03 is still a new PR for me! 

Now, it's onto the completion of my training for the Atlanta Track Club's Peachtree Road Race where their slogan is "Heat, Hills and Humidity". All this training in the heat of North Florida will give me the best preparation for a little 10K through downtown Atlanta on July 4th! 

xoxoxo - 

Mitzi