March is here!

I am so excited, and at the same time cannot believe that March is here already! I remember thinking back in December that spring seemed so far off, and now here we are, with it on the horizon.

Spring is one of my favorite times of year; it's the time when all the colors of nature come back to the Earth, the geese return home, the birds nest in our back yard, the roads dry up, the ice melts away and race season starts to heat up!

Last weekend was race weekend and a 5km was on tap! For some reason I was really excited for it. Not because the weather was going to be great (the forecast was for freezing rain and temperatures just above zero) or because I was peaked for a PB or anything, but because I've been longing for a race as I was really curious to see where I was at in a 'race situation'. You can simulate all you want, but as we all know, race days are different; and you just can't replicate that in training.

With my knee injury back in the fall, it set me back a little or perhaps gave me forced rest that was necessary or needed. However since then I've been able to nail some really great training sessions this winter with some solid strength and speed foundation work (thanks in-part to our very mild weather this year). Seeing how that would all play out with an early/start-to-the-season race had me really excited!

This race last year happened a month later, in April. In it I did meet my 'C' goal, and was at peace with that. But that was last year; this year I knew I wanted more. Here's my kilometer by kilometer breakdown of how it all shook out for me this time around:

I warmed up well and come race start I was both anxious and excited to get going! Perfect little combination of nervousness and adrenaline!

Me in the purple coat - trying to stay warm!
Photo cred: MEC race series

Gun goes off, I toss my warming coat and go! The first kilometer was a gradual to increasingly steeper uphill climb, and against a slight wind the whole way. I had a thought to maybe tuck behind some other runners to block the wind (something I never do) but didn't like that at all. I wanted to see where I was going, so out I went. My pace was ok, but since this first kilometer was mostly uphill I was more focusing on sustained hard effort, rather than pace obsession.

From the 1km to 2.5 km mark it was mostly downhill, with some flats and it went by really quickly. I had to actually double check my watch as I didn't believe the race signs. Pace check: good or a little fast, but no worries since I knew my first kilometer was slower. Why not, I thought, - let's see what happens?

Between the 2.5km and 4km mark it was pretty icy and trying to maintain a solid, consistent pace was challenging. Having to slow down and penguin run, dodge ice, leap over sketchy sections or detour slightly onto the snowy grass made for not the best conditions, but what can you do right?

For some reason, whether it's road or cross-country I have my biggest struggles between kilometer 3 and 4, and this race was no different. I find doubt and fatigue start to creep in, if I let it; but I'm working on keeping that crap out of my head!

4km mark - almost done. While I thought I knew the finish I quickly saw ahead that we had one more hill to climb. Crap. This hill I pushed, I wanted to finish hard and spent and was definitely pleased with how I attacked that hill. Finish line in sight I pushed hard; jumping over some last few ice and snow patches I crossed the line satisfied. I reached my 'B' time goal, and for a March race, I'm very happy with that. I felt I pushed well, but also know I have more to give and faster times to come as I build my strength and speed through the season.

I know I have more speed in me. I know I will get stronger. I know it. I know I have more to gain, learn and give. This is my last year in this age group so my plan is to make the most of it. No regrets. Leave it all out there.

Bring on 2016. I want it.