The Cocoa 5K on February 2nd was a first year race that was part of the Carolina Chocolate Festival. I decided to do the race just for fun. The course was a flat out and back starting from CMAST building on Bogue Sound in Morehead City and ran down Evans Street.
I arrived at the race around 7:15am. After doing some dynamic stretching I ran the race course for an easy warm-up. I tend to do better on my tempo runs when I do a 3 mile warm-up instead of a 2 miles so I took this race as a tempo. It was 28 degrees but the wind was calm. My goals for the race were to win, of course, and to run faster than my last 5K; the Resolution Run 5K on December 29th.
I know you're not supposed to do anything new on race day, much less wear shoes you have never ran in before but I did just that. I ran in the Brooks Green Silence that I bought at the Marshall University Marathon expo. I thought a 5K would be a good way to break them in. It was a decent crowd for a first year race. About 130 runners lined up for the the 8:00 AM start. I kept my tights on since the temperature was still below freezing. I also wore a long sleeve blue Under Armour cold gear shirt and my black Capital RunWalk singlet over it. I had not ran a race in tights before but I also had not ran a race with temperatures below freezing.
The gun went off and I was out leading. The start was a little tricky because there was a speed bump 5 feet after the staring line and a couple others we had to cross in the parking lot before making it to the main road. I was leading but could hear someone fairly close behind me. The golf cart leading us on the course was having a hard time staying ahead of me for some reason. Just before turning down to Evans Street I had to pass the golf cart or run into it.
I kept pushing myself as I neared the 1 mile mark. I ran the first mile in 5:50. It felt comfortable so I picked it up and started pulling away from the field. I continued on Evans Street and rounded the turn around. I was by myself still but second place was only thirty seconds or so behind. The shoes were feeling great as I ran mile 2 in 5:45. At this point I knew I had the race won and just had to push myself for a sub 18:00. I kept the pace fast and neared the finish. I won in 17:57. Second place was over 19:00 min.
I arrived at the race around 7:15am. After doing some dynamic stretching I ran the race course for an easy warm-up. I tend to do better on my tempo runs when I do a 3 mile warm-up instead of a 2 miles so I took this race as a tempo. It was 28 degrees but the wind was calm. My goals for the race were to win, of course, and to run faster than my last 5K; the Resolution Run 5K on December 29th.
I know you're not supposed to do anything new on race day, much less wear shoes you have never ran in before but I did just that. I ran in the Brooks Green Silence that I bought at the Marshall University Marathon expo. I thought a 5K would be a good way to break them in. It was a decent crowd for a first year race. About 130 runners lined up for the the 8:00 AM start. I kept my tights on since the temperature was still below freezing. I also wore a long sleeve blue Under Armour cold gear shirt and my black Capital RunWalk singlet over it. I had not ran a race in tights before but I also had not ran a race with temperatures below freezing.
The gun went off and I was out leading. The start was a little tricky because there was a speed bump 5 feet after the staring line and a couple others we had to cross in the parking lot before making it to the main road. I was leading but could hear someone fairly close behind me. The golf cart leading us on the course was having a hard time staying ahead of me for some reason. Just before turning down to Evans Street I had to pass the golf cart or run into it.
I kept pushing myself as I neared the 1 mile mark. I ran the first mile in 5:50. It felt comfortable so I picked it up and started pulling away from the field. I continued on Evans Street and rounded the turn around. I was by myself still but second place was only thirty seconds or so behind. The shoes were feeling great as I ran mile 2 in 5:45. At this point I knew I had the race won and just had to push myself for a sub 18:00. I kept the pace fast and neared the finish. I won in 17:57. Second place was over 19:00 min.
I did not post my Garmin from the race because I lost it after the race. The last thing I remember is stretching with it after I ran another 2 miles easy after the race. I thought I put it in my coat pocket but if I did it fell out somewhere. I looked all over the start/finish and parking lot and did not find it. I also looked all through my car and my parents house. If anyone reading this found it please contact me. It is a black Garmin Forerunner 110. I also did not have any pictures to post because I left my camera at the house.
Even though I have only ran in the Brooks Green Silence once I love the shoe! It is a great road racing shoe for 5K-half marathon and even the marathon for some people. They are light but great cushioning. The shoe is made from green materials. My favorite part of the shoe is the wrap-over tongue. It is made into the upper, not a separate piece. It locks onto the top of your foot and doesn't slide like tongues do on other shoes. I think all running shoes should make the tongue that way.
I was happy with the win but a little disappointed in my time. The pace felt comfortable and I knew I could have held that pace for a 10K or longer. I just did not have the extra gear to go much faster, especially without anyone to push me. It was a good race and I liked the course. I hope the race grows in numbers next year.
Even though I have only ran in the Brooks Green Silence once I love the shoe! It is a great road racing shoe for 5K-half marathon and even the marathon for some people. They are light but great cushioning. The shoe is made from green materials. My favorite part of the shoe is the wrap-over tongue. It is made into the upper, not a separate piece. It locks onto the top of your foot and doesn't slide like tongues do on other shoes. I think all running shoes should make the tongue that way.
I was happy with the win but a little disappointed in my time. The pace felt comfortable and I knew I could have held that pace for a 10K or longer. I just did not have the extra gear to go much faster, especially without anyone to push me. It was a good race and I liked the course. I hope the race grows in numbers next year.
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