Crazylegs Classic - Run8k

Mile 1: 6:14
Mile 2: 6:31
Mile 3: 6:21
Mile 4: 6:40
Mile 5: 6:31

I ran the Boston marathon on Monday, so I didn't want to push too hard in this race. It was going to be a tempo workout for me. But then at the starting line I saw someone that I decided I would compete with. Just a random person, really. So for the first mile I stalked him and caught him. I felt good in the second mile, and I kept moving up but this guy was attached to me. So for the first time ever in running, I decided to start throwing down attacks. It was a hilly section so it seemed like a good place. It worked pretty well, actually, and it was fun. But then mile 3 was completely flat, and I guess I didn't run that one very fast because the dude caught up with me again and passed me at the 3 mile mark. I decided the fun was over and let him go. I wasn't supposed to be racing this thing anyway. So I cruised in the rest of the way at my intended pace.

Even though my legs felt bad during the warmup, they were fine for the race. I think it's because I ran the race on my toes. Maybe I should try to train that way too.

Nothing

I ate a little bit of fruit and then jogged a mile back on the course. I enjoyed some of the free beer and did some ghetto stretching while trying to stay out of the rain.

The rain really chilled me after the race. I should have brought rain gear.


Ran a marathon earlier this week. And nothing was at stake for this race, so I didn't have any reason for running faster.


The good:

The wave start is done well and it was easy to run at a good pace right from the start, despite have 19,000 runners or whatever.

The course is good, with some hills and some flats. Good variety. It might be scenic too in the middle miles, because one of those lakes is nearby.

The bad:

The finish line could use a few more refreshments. Orange slices and bananas are tasty, but that was all that was available. Oh yeah and beer, but I can't drink too much of it if all I had to eat was 100 calories in fruit.

I didn't like finishing in the stadium very much either, because getting onto the field is awkward (a sharp left followed by a steep downward incline and then a step up at the bottom) and everyone was immediately shooed up to the bleachers after finishing anyway. Once we were in the bleachers there was no way to exit except to cross in front of the runners, and they surprisingly didn't like that.

The ugly:

The weather this year. If rain is in the forecast, pack some extra dry clothes.