PC: Fit & Able

To kick off the 2025 race year, I returned to WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina, for my second Sole Mates 6.5-Miler the day after Valentine’s Day, fourth time on this course. Albeit short for my standard of paying and waking up early on a weekend for a running event, I still started anxious about how my body in my current fitness would handle the rolling hills for the first three big loops, followed by a smaller loop that concludes the race with uninterrupted half-a-mile climbing. The last time here, I uncharacteristically for this distance took a few short walking breaks on major hills, and I had blamed the bizarre humidity in the mid-70s. With conditions more ideal this year, I set two realistic goals: not walking and finishing with a sub-9:00 average mile pace.

PC: Fit & Able

Usual here because of a lengthy downhill start, I ran the first mile significantly faster than I have in the past several months then rapidly slowed down. My body oddly warmed up halfway through the run, and tackling the hills during the third big loop felt lighter than the second. With a mile to go and anticipating the final lengthy climb, I felt confident I saved enough to finish strong, and I was pleasantly surprised that this hill did not feel anywhere near as steep or daunting as I recalled, the weather likely playing a part. I crossed the finish in a gun time of 58:26.24, with an elevation gain of 472 feet according to my COROS and my second-fastest time on this course, achieving both of my goals.