This was my first time doing the Blue Ridge Conservancy 5K in Blowing Rock, NC. The Blue Ridge Conservancy is a private, non-profit, non-governmental organization that has protected over 20,000 acres in Western, NC. The race course is a beautiful loop staring in central Blowing Rock with a challenging climb up Wonderland Trail Road before a fast downhill final mile mile to finish. I knew it was going to be a tough course to race and it got tougher when my coach added a workout immediately after the race. I am training for the Richmond Marathon after all so it made sense but I hadn't done a workout following a race before. I felt pretty bad ass that it was on my training plan because only the likes of the Zap Fitness Elite team, Galen Rupp, and other elites do workouts after racing. My girlfriend Kristin decided to do the race too so it was the first time we both would be doing the same race.
I didn't have a goal time for this race as I knew the course would be tough and I was coming off 81, 64, and 81 mile weeks the previous three weeks. I just wanted to race the course, felt good, and nail the 3 miles tempo workout after the race. The weather was great but a little warm for Blowing Rock standards in late September. It was in the low to mid 60s, full sun, but a little humid. I did an easy 2.5 miles before lining up for the race start.
I got off to a fast start following Zap runners Johnny and Pardon. I knew they would soon disappear so my goal was to stay in third place and make it a Zap singlet sweep on the podium. The first 1.5 miles is all uphill so it's a tough start to a race. It's a challenging climb but the views on the course especially on Wonderland Trail Road on a clear day are beautiful. I opened with a 6:02 first mile with 128 feet gain before slowing to a 6:18 on mile two that had about 108 feet gain. I was running with a group of 3 other guys up until then when two pulled away from me. I was looking forward to opening up the stride and seeing what I could do on the downhill mile three. Even with all the marathon mileage on my legs I was able to pick it up and run mile three in 5:33. Downhill or not it was good to have that speed. I didn't gain on third and forth place though but I distanced myself more from those behind me. The last 400m into the finish is a little tough too as you have another climb. I finished in 5th overall, 1st in my age group in 18:19. Pardon won the race in a blazing 15:07. Johnny was second in 15:13.
I didn't have a goal time for this race as I knew the course would be tough and I was coming off 81, 64, and 81 mile weeks the previous three weeks. I just wanted to race the course, felt good, and nail the 3 miles tempo workout after the race. The weather was great but a little warm for Blowing Rock standards in late September. It was in the low to mid 60s, full sun, but a little humid. I did an easy 2.5 miles before lining up for the race start.
I got off to a fast start following Zap runners Johnny and Pardon. I knew they would soon disappear so my goal was to stay in third place and make it a Zap singlet sweep on the podium. The first 1.5 miles is all uphill so it's a tough start to a race. It's a challenging climb but the views on the course especially on Wonderland Trail Road on a clear day are beautiful. I opened with a 6:02 first mile with 128 feet gain before slowing to a 6:18 on mile two that had about 108 feet gain. I was running with a group of 3 other guys up until then when two pulled away from me. I was looking forward to opening up the stride and seeing what I could do on the downhill mile three. Even with all the marathon mileage on my legs I was able to pick it up and run mile three in 5:33. Downhill or not it was good to have that speed. I didn't gain on third and forth place though but I distanced myself more from those behind me. The last 400m into the finish is a little tough too as you have another climb. I finished in 5th overall, 1st in my age group in 18:19. Pardon won the race in a blazing 15:07. Johnny was second in 15:13.
Me and Kristin I talked to a few people after I finished while getting some water. I did a mile easy in 7:50 to Moses Cone Memorial Park where I was going to do my three miles tempo workout around Bass Lake. Surprisingly I was feeling pretty good and I nailed the tempo. Bass Lake has a flat 1500m loop around it perfect for tempos and intervals. I did the 3 mile tempo in 18:19 with splits of 6:07, 6:06, 6:06. Running low 6 min tempo pace felt pretty easy after closing a 5K in 5:33. I did a mile easy cool down back to the race finish just in time to chill before the awards ceremony started. Kristin completed the toughest 5K she did ahead of her goal time and just 10 seconds slower than what she ran the flat Gasparilla 5K in Tampa, Fl back in February so she was happy with that and surprised herself.
The race was a lot of fun and the course is beautiful. It's a great cause to support as well as we need to protect our natural lands. The post race sticky buns, cookies, and coffee were delicious too! I also got to met a new friend, Melanie Brender who used to run with the Brooks Hansons group. The next morning I met Melanie and the Zap team for a long run. I ran with Joanna, Nicole, and Melanie as their paces were close to mine. We had a great 20 miles together then I added on another 4 miles to finish my long run and give me 85 miles for the week. I really appreciated the aid station head coach Pete Rea set up for us for the run. I really enjoy the Zap team and getting to run with them. They're such a friendly and welcoming group.
Race Gear
Socks: Smartwool Men's PhD Ultra Light Low Cut Socks
Shoes: Reebok Floatride Run Fast
Shorts: 2XU MCS Run Compression Short
Singlet: Zap Fitness Reebok singlet
Watch: Garmin 920xt
Road ID Wrist ID Slim
Sunglasses: Rudy Project Tralyx
The race was a lot of fun and the course is beautiful. It's a great cause to support as well as we need to protect our natural lands. The post race sticky buns, cookies, and coffee were delicious too! I also got to met a new friend, Melanie Brender who used to run with the Brooks Hansons group. The next morning I met Melanie and the Zap team for a long run. I ran with Joanna, Nicole, and Melanie as their paces were close to mine. We had a great 20 miles together then I added on another 4 miles to finish my long run and give me 85 miles for the week. I really appreciated the aid station head coach Pete Rea set up for us for the run. I really enjoy the Zap team and getting to run with them. They're such a friendly and welcoming group.
Race Gear
Socks: Smartwool Men's PhD Ultra Light Low Cut Socks
Shoes: Reebok Floatride Run Fast
Shorts: 2XU MCS Run Compression Short
Singlet: Zap Fitness Reebok singlet
Watch: Garmin 920xt
Road ID Wrist ID Slim
Sunglasses: Rudy Project Tralyx
Pardon, Johnny, Me, Kristin, and Melaine. Photo by Tim Meigs
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