It's 32 degrees at race time, and though the weather has been a focus, my race plans do not include wearing long pants. This, is a mistake. By mile 8 my quads are toast and my body is fatiguing from trying to stay warm. PR goals are made by many, but I won't be among them. Instead, I'll be glad the post-race celebration is inside.

While the weather was modestly warmer than my hometown in the Midwest on race day, the temps were not how I'd hoped to spend race #5 in the marathon-a-month challenge. Still, each race offers lessons if you're receptive, and this one told me to pack for cold weather contingencies in the future.

Having flown in on a warmer day, I enjoyed walking from a nearby hostel to the race expo where I enjoyed meeting the pro Brooks athletes, including Des Linden and Kara Goucher who were taping their podcast 'Nobody Asked Us' later in the day. It was a weekend filled with race activities, and an enjoyable one at that.

Now, if I could get go back and cover my quads, I'd feel much better about my performance, I'm sure! But a fun weekend was had anyway.

Happy racing, friends!

XOXO,

T