It’s 6:00 a.m. and I’m up in NYC getting ready for my first race of the year—a 5K in Prospect Park, Brooklyn. I had to take three trains to get there, but I was genuinely so excited to kick off my race season. I bring you along for the full race day vibe: the early start, the crowd energy, and the actual run from start to finish. For the race itself, the first mile felt good… and then the hills showed up. Prospect Park humbled me a little, but I stuck to my strategy: don’t go out fast, keep a steady pace, and save the push for later. It was cloudy, lightly raining, and muddy, but I didn’t stop at all—having my running vest with my own water helped because I personally hate stopping at water stations. After I finished, I felt proud more than anything, like I’ve improved since my last race. I also share what I’m training for next (my first half marathon in May—Brooklyn/Coney Island), plus a realistic recovery day: sore legs, cleaning my apartment, easy breakfast, and being a “lazy potato.” I also do a quick life catch-up—mailing my mom perfumes from Qatar, celebrating with Peruvian food, and a reminder to check in on your quarterly goals.