I run for hot chocolate!

After my half-marathon, I took a lengthy break from running. Two weeks, to be exact.  

So you can understand why I was feeling a little nervous last weekend as I got up and headed to Principal Park (home of the Iowa Cubs) for the Hot Chocolate 5K for which I'd registered.  

My nerves were no match for the cold though.  Wow.  My weather app told me it was 41 out, but it didn't feel anywhere near that warm.  A brisk breeze out of the east made it feel much closer to freezing.  I ended up waiting in my car until about twenty minutes before the race was set to start. In hindsght, this probably wasn't the best idea.  It would have been better if I'd spent more time outside, acclimating to the temperatures.  But I'm a wimp, so I didn't do that.

I did my best to get loosened up and enjoy the race while we waited for the start. I made friends, as always, with the lady next to me.  She only started running in June and this was her second 5K of the weekend. Crazy.  

The route of the race was gorgeous.  It wound all along the Des Moines River, crossing it twice.  The second cross -- on the way back -- went across the Women of Achievement Bridge.  I've been wanting to check out that bridge for a long time, so I was really excited about this.  It is a fantastic structure and I definitely want to go back and walk or run downtown more often.

My final time -- 35:42
Pace -- 11:42/mile

Not too shabby.  Especially citing my long break from running.

The hot chocolate at the end was pretty tasty too.

+++++

Last week's workouts

Friday: Off.
Saturday: Off.

Sunday: Hot Chocolate 5K

Monday: Off

Tuesday: Zumba (1 hr)

Wednesday: Off.

Thursday: Jillian Michaels 30-Day Shred

I fully intended to go to BodyPump and/or Zumba on Thursday, but some plans came up.  So I pulled out the Jillian Michaels DVD for a quick but intense workout. 

What's your go-to when you want to squeeze in a quick workout?