My Life on the Run: Frozen Hot Chocolate 10K 2014

This 10K in Austin was one of the toughest I have ever done. At the race's 8:15 AM start, it was 78 degrees with 97% humidity, and it went downhill from there.

Friends at the start

Pace guidelines at the start

Pre-race

I had done the Frozen Hot Chocolate race in Dallas three years ago in March, and at that time, we battled freezing weather: 21 degrees at starting time! Yesterday's Austin race was HOT, very hilly, and a large part of the course was over gravel.

Killer hill at mile 5!

MORE hills!

The race was held at the Circuit of the Americas race track near the airport. I had never been before, so it was very cool to get to see the complex. I met up with friends at the start, and that's always the best part of

doing these events: the camraderie we all feel.

Running along the perimeter of the race track

Motorcycle race in progress as we ran

Overall, this was a good race, but my recommendation is to start the 10K people at 7AM, have more water stops along the way, and let people know ahead of time how hilly the course is going to be given that there was a 15 minute per mile pace restriction.