The perfect end to 2016 {2016 Waikanae Summer 5K Series Recap}

As you might know, I'm currently still frantically trying to nail the last of my five running goals for 2016.  I've made some good progress with some of the goals I've set, but there's one in particular that I've zoomed in on and have been determined to meet before the end of the year: Clocking a sub-24 minute 5 km.  Now, you should know that I've never run that fast in my life.  Ever.  And that I'm on the brink of turning 40.  So clocking a sub-24 was quite a cheeky goal to set, but one that I believed, with hard work and consistency, would be possible.

Fast forward to Monday night - my first ever race in beautiful New Zealand!  I've been planning to do one of the Waikanae Summer 5 k Series races for a while now, and finally got the chance this week.  Getting to the race was an intricately planned operation in itself: The kids and I would drive to Waikanae to register and warm up, while Will would be taking the train to Waikane from Wellington (where he works) to meet us at the starting line to watch the kids while I race.  The train stops in Waikanae at 18:21, with a three to four-minute walk to the starting line, and the race started at 18:30, so as you can see, there wasn't a lot of leeway for delays...     

Registered and ready to race!

But everything and everyone was right on schedule, so I set off with 23 other die-hards for a cold and rainy 5 k run.  We started off slow and easy since the path was quite congested, but I settled into a comfortable-ish rhythm as soon as the bunch spread out a little.  

The route is perfect for a PB attempt: It winds through the streets of Waikanae and has a very slight downhill for the first 3 km, with a slight incline over the last 2 km.  I stuck to the bike path next to the road for the greatest part of the race, so traffic wasn't an issue at all.  

I avoided checking my pace throughout the race and just put my head down and ran as bearably hard as I could.  The race finished on a cheeky little incline, and as I crossed the finish line, I glanced down to my watch and burst out laughing: 23:37!!!  Take that, you cheeky, pie-in-the-sky running goal!  A 5 k PB by 27 seconds.

Evidence!

Post-race with my lovelies.

The race series is well supported by local businesses and pretty much everyone who participated received a lucky draw prize.  Mine was especially outstanding...  

What an absolutely perfect first race experience in NZ.  And with that I"m also done chasing goals for the rest of the year - 2016 can end in peace now...!