Race Recap: Brazen Victory 5k
So, 10k two weeks ago, Princess Half last weekend...what's another 5k between friends?
The only reason I was running this was because my wife was running the 10k. Brazen does a 'mega-medal' for this and the Bay Breeze race two weeks ago, the 'Breeze To Victory' combo. We've never done this particular race before. Younger son decided to come along for this one as well, doing the 5k.
Got up around 6:15 because it's almost an hour drive to the race. Out the door about 6:40, got in early enough to see the half marathon launch at 8.
8:15, the 10k launched, then they reversed the starting setup for the 5k. They needed to add a bit to the course to get it up to 5k length, so instead of launching straight down the course, we went 'backwards' for about a tenth of a mile, then turned around and came back.
The Victory races start at a former Ford factory and shipyard, where jeeps and Victory ships were built for the WWII war effort. Then they go along the waterfront, looping back as appropriate for length. The course, at least for the 5k and 10k, is concrete sidewalks, wooden docks/boardwalks, and asphalt walking paths, and is pretty close to completely flat. (Strava says 29' of elevation change for my wife's 10k.)
I don't think I like this course as much as the Bay Breeze course. (Parking is a lot better, though.) The concrete seemed to radiate heat, the boardwalk areas didn't feel like particularly stable footing, and there was...well, less of a bay breeze. Still, it's not a bad course, just not quite as good.
The plan for the race was to run it at 2m/30s intervals, skipping the first walk interval. I was struggling early on, and by 3 minutes in I was looking at my watch waiting for the 4:30 mark when I could walk. I kept going, though, and settled into my intervals without a problem.
After the first mile, I felt I was dragging a bit, but kept going. Somewhere around the halfway point, though, I felt my pace picking up as I loosened up. The third mile turned out to be the fastest of the three, in the end. Final time, 38:56, a 12:34 pace.
Splits:
1. 12:37
2. 13:01
3. 12:33
My son came in just under 45 minutes, doing quite well for him; wife didn't have the race she wanted and came in at 1:34:31.
We picked up the combo medals:
...and headed home.
That was on me though and it only twice in about a three year period. You just have to make sure you remember and the canceling thing is pretty easy on their site. There was once I got charged when I had definitely cancelled. I emailed them about it and they reversed the charge pretty quickly.
