Celtic Solstice Five Miler - Run


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Baltimore, Maryland
United States
Falls Road Running
30F / -1C
Sunny
Total Time = 38m 31s
Overall Rank = 353/2953
Age Group = F30-39
Age Group Rank = 22/335
Pre-race routine:

I kind of forgot about this race. I signed up mainly because (1) a few coworkers were running it (team Victory Loves Company!), (2) it's hard to turn down the sweet race shirt and (3), I didn't have a chance to PR the 5 mile this year (previous PR: 40:23, set at this same race back in 2007).

I've been streaking (running at least 3 mi every day) since a few days after the marathon, but I haven't really been "training" -- no speedwork, no tempo runs, no hill repeats ... just running. It's been nice.

Event warmup:

It met up with two of my friends/ coworkers at our work at 7:00 and we drove into the city. I'm kind of obsessive about getting to a race early, but the good thing about being a lawyer is being around other Type A-ers who understand that getting to a race an hour before the gun goes off it totally normal. We got into the park, parked easily, and headed over to the start. It. was. FREEZING.


We hung out in the warming tent until it was time to head over the start. We were treated to a small parade of bagpipes (very cool) and finally took off around 8:34.

Run
  • 38m 31s
  • 5 miles
  • 07m 42s  min/mile
Comments:

The first mile was really crowded. I should have seeded myself closer to the front but I thought I was pretty far up. I needed to keep an 8 mm/ just under that to PR and I figured it wouldn't be too much of a problem, but I was a little concerned when I hit mile 1 at 8:04. It cleared up after that, though. I just felt GOOD during the entire race. I was racing it but I didn't feel that OH-GOD-LET-IT-END feeling until the very end. The course isn't super flat but it's hardly hilly. I'd call it "rolling light."

Runners wore jingle bells and Santa hats and the ground was still covered in snow - made for a very winter-y, very festive race. Everyone just seemed so damn happy.

SPLITS:

1 8:04.7
2 7:41.5
3 7:38.4
4 7:30.1
5 7:09.8

HOW'S THAT FOR A NEGATIVE SPLIT? WHEEEE!

What would you do differently?:

Start closer to the front
Push harder at the start (who knew I had a 7:09 in me for the last mile??)
Post race
Warm down:

Waited for my friends to come through the chute. After warming up with some Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate, we met at Miss Shirley's for brunch. How much do I love a giant omelet, biscuit, and home fries after a great race? So very, very much.

Event comments:

One of my favorite winter runs!


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Last updated: 2013-11-10 12:00 AM
Running
00:38:31 | 05 miles | 07m 42s  min/mile
Age Group: 22/335
Overall: 353/2953
Performance: Good
Course:
Keeping cool Good Drinking Just right
Post race
Weight change: %
Overall: Good
Mental exertion [1-5] 5
Physical exertion [1-5] 4
Good race? Yes
Evaluation
Course challenge Just right
Organized? Yes
Events on-time? Yes
Lots of volunteers? Yes
Plenty of drinks? Yes
Post race activities: Average
Race evaluation [1-5] 5