Each Summer, the Lakeland Runners Club hosts the Watermelon Series. The series consists of four 5K races run around Lake Hollingsworth.
This year was our 3rd year competing. I ran pretty consistent times: 18:30, 18:22, 18:38 and 18:29. The 18:30 tied my PR from the last race of last year's Watermelon and the 18:22 was for a new PR. I am happy that I pulled off two races in the 18:20s. I was hoping for lower times this year, but with all the hill and speedwork I have been doing, I don't think the legs had it in them. The weather also seemed a little worse this year with some mornings where the air was pretty thick.
Overall, I placed 2nd in my age group ending my string of 1st place finishes. My friend Robbie ran all the races this year and just blows my times away.
Once again, Jenny and the kids ran all the races as well as Jenny's Mom. Everybody did well and improved race to race.
It was nice this year with the chip timing even though that did double the cost of the races. The series is still dirt cheap costing only $30 for the whole series if you sign up for all races.
We look forward to running again next year. There really aren't many races around in the Summer and this series give Summer training a sense of purpose.
