I ran the Colder Bolder 5K this morning. Start time – 7:35 am. An early run for me. The temps weren’t bad though, around 40°, but with a bit of a breeze at 8 mph. I’ve run these events well below zero in the past, where it’s earned its name.

The rooftops of the buildings on the CU campus are still full of snow. I ran without gloves or a hat but still might have been over-dressed wearing two shirts. I saw runners comfortable in tank tops, others were shivering.

I might have run a few seconds faster than last weekend’s turkey trot in my neighborhood, finishing in 25:37, an 8:15 pace. I felt stronger today, but I warmed up for this run. This course is harder though, not with true hills, but constant slopes, which when racing at altitude, feel like real hills.

I haven’t run this event in 9 years. It’s a super fun atmosphere with breakfast burritos and beer afterward. Assuming you drink beer for breakfast. I was running 5Ks under a 7 minute pace back then. I have to say, last weekend and today is the first time in years I’ve pushed myself to run at my lactate threshold. That’s hard but it feels like true racing. I couldn’t last running a marathon in oxygen debt, but that’s what 5Ks are good for.