Revolutionary Run 5-Miler - Run5 Mile

As always, tough not to go out faster than I'd prefer because surrounded by so many and, at least at the start as we were all bunched up, it seemed like we were too slow and "losing" time. After it began to space out, I just paced off some folks around me until I found some I could stick with comfortably. Hit the first mile at about 10:30, but the second, coming after a big hill, came in at around 22:00 by my watch, if I remember right. I used the downhill to catch my breath and pass some folks who were struggling after the hill (made me glad I'd paced myself getting to the hill), then just tried to hold on at another steep hill just before water stop at 2.5. Walked while I drank some water and caught some breath back. Used that recuperation to regain my place, particularly through a slightly rolling section. Can't remember where I was at mile 3, just that it was below an 11:00 pace. Three to four and to about 4.5 was generally flat. I didn't have much more in the tank, but I tried to push a little faster and I picked off a few people. I tried to keep it reasonable, thinking about that last hill. When we hit the last steep downhill, a lot of folks around me tried to really pick it up...I figured I'd see most of them again at the hill as they faltered and, for the most part, I did. The last hill was very tough, just tried to keep planting one foot in front of another and paced off a woman who passed me just before we started climbing. One older (60s or 70s) woman really struggled up the hill; she'd try to run, stop and walk, try to run again, stop and walk...I didn't think she'd make it but then she kicked it up a notch when the finish line came into view.

Not sure I'd do much differently. I'm thinking I could've gone out faster but that might've given me real trouble on the two big hills. I knew they'd send the HR soaring, so didn't want to hit them drained. Overall goal was to beat 55 minutes if possible, and I managed that...still a BOP finish, though. Just proves how hard it is to get fast, despite my improvement. Still hoping I can maintain same pace (maybe a little slower) and beat two hours on Broad Street.

Grabbed a water and just walked. Went to get my bag and that walking was my cool down.


Hill climbing. There are hills on my training route, but nothing like this.


Very well done race except there's only one water station on the whole route. Probably too much to ask to have one at each mile (not really needed at first mile anyway), but would've been nice if there had been at least one more. Tough course too, with the hills (for me, anyway); requires a firm hand on the pacing or you can blow yourself out.