Al's Run - Run

I started out waiting for the start in the area where it was supposed to be people running at 6:00/mile pace near the front of the field. However, when we started, I had to fight my way through the field due to many slower runners in front of me. That probably slowed me down a bit at the start. Once I got into my stride I felt pretty good. However twice in the first half mile or so I thought my leg was going to give out. I just had shots of pain and weakness on a few steps. I was able to work through that and keep going.

In the second mile is the only real uphills on the course. After passing the river, there is an uphill and then another one after turning north at the US Bank tower. The second mile was a little slower due to the uphills, but I was still feeling good. I didn't really have to start pushing myself until some time in the 4th mile when I started really feeling tired. Kept pushing through that and kept each mile under 7:00.

My splits for each mile were approximately as follows. (I hit lap at each mile post, but they didn't seem to be exactly a mile apart so the fllowing are average paces for each split)

Mile 1 6:31
Mile 2 6:53
Mile 3 6:44
Mile 4 6:58
Mile 5 6:56

My Garmin had the course at 5.05 miles while an actual 8K would be 4.96 miles. I have heard other people questioning the actual length of the course as well so if it was a bit long my average pace was even better.

I tried giving it all I had over the last quarter mile while trying to catch the guy in front of me. I never quite got to him but on the last straightaway, I heard someone behind me. That gave me enough motivation to turn on just a little more and hold them off through the finish line. I saw my time and realized I was well under my goal and my fastest 5 mile (or 8K - whatever) race time ever!

Not much. I took time off from training in September due to vacation and then work travel so I was not fully prepared but still got my PR so I can not complain about anything I did or didn't do.

If I had to pick something, I could probably try to start farther towards the front and push a little more in the first few miles and see what I can do at the end. I may have been taking it a little easier that I could have at the start holding back for the end. While I did seem to wear out at the end of this race, I could build up better to hold on even while pushing more at the start.

Drank a lot of water and walked for a while before I stretched. Saw Ross after he finished and talked to other people I knew.


Good race and I got a PR! Goal was to break 35:00 so I could not be happier with the results.