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Comments: My goal was sub-20:15. I've PR'ed at this race the last two years...my PR going into today was last year's 20:31. Based on recent interval work, I knew 20:10-20:15 was realistic. I thought I had a legitimate shot at my first sub-20, frankly. Went out quick and fell in behind the leader, about 20 yds back. After we rounded the first turn, I looked at my Garmin: 5:15/mile! Oops, no, not staying there, thank you. Gradually eased back to a bit over 6:15 and kept it there. Three people passed me as I throttled back and settled into fifth. As everyone has suspected each year, with a Garmin unit this time, I was able to confirm that the 1 mile marker was way short: 0.88 mi. I hit the real 1 mile split at 6:14. Still probably too fast, but I was maintaining around 6:25-6:35. One more guy passed me during mile two. I was settled into the 6:28-6:38 range now and stayed there most of the rest of the race. With a 6:14 first mile, I calculated that I could go sub-20 if I did 6:34/6:34 for the second and third miles. Two mile split gave me a 6:34+, but I was losing a bit of steam. At around 2.35 miles, I noticed "7:00" on my Garmin for current pace and built back up to around 6:25-6:40. At three miles (and with the only hill...a downhill...ahead), I saw that I was just barely in reach of sub-20. I was pretty spent, but I always have a kick, so I hit the gas down the hill. There's a sharp turn at the foot of the hill into the temple parking lot for the finishing stretch...going into the lot, I had 15 seconds left to 20-flat...sprinted as fast as I could, but the finish line clock clicked over to "20:00" when I was steps away. Close, but no cigar. Garmin indicated 3.11 for the race...which is cool...I've always suspected the course was short, but now my PRs here are validated. What would you do differently?: I took one cup of water at two miles...I frequently don't take water on a 5K, but I felt parched and it wasn't helping my breathing. Probably shouldn't have chased the leader--I recognized the guy from past races and knew he was fast, but didn't think he was going out sub 5:30. But I could have picked up a couple seconds anywhere in the middle third of mile three, frankly. Next time...  Post race
Warm down: Walked and jogged a few yards. Stretched a little. Looked at the low tech finisher board they use for this race and saw that I was 2nd in my AG (1st was just ahead of me, but too far for me to have caught...14 seconds). My bib no. tag was in the 6th spot O/A--where I expected it--but there was a blank with no tag at no. 3. Turns out that runner had no bib number...not an official entrant...so I got 5th O/A. Got a bottle of water and almost missed my wife coming into the home stretch. She finished strong...beat her most recent 5K time, but not last year's PR at this race. Looked at her position on the board and told her that it looked like she was 2nd in her AG (32nd O/A)...assuming that someone named "Guadalupe" was a woman. I got my 2nd place AG plaque. Race director announced my time as "19:48"...I told him I wished so, but they had assigned my time to the 3rd place guy...no doubt due to the guy with no bib number creating confusion. Then they announced Liz's AG. Someone else with a slower time was announced in 2nd and, for a moment, she looked indignant. Then the RD said, "Here's a family that's taking home a bunch of hardware...the Covert family" and announced Liz as AG winner! (Guess "Guadalupe" was a guy...) She was shocked and a little embarrassed...'cuz she moaned more than once about getting up "at stupid o'clock" on a Sunday to run. Her first podium finish in a running event in her life...and it turned out to be a first. (So she gets household "bragging rights" with her 1st to my 2nd.) What limited your ability to perform faster: Nothing really, other than being 48 years old. Last year, I dropped my time on this course by 26 seconds and this year I dropped it again by 29 sec. My Garmin had me at sub-6:28 pace, so I'm right there for sub-20 5K now. Event comments: This is a fundraiser for a fairly large temple in the San Fernando Valley that happens to have an experienced race director in the congregation. They do everything "in house" as a result, so there are glitches with things like awards every year. But it is a flat fast course and there's always lots of bagels to go around afterwards. And the price is only $20 with no late reg. bump. Last updated: 2008-05-19 12:00 AM
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United States
Temple Beth Hillel
65F / 18C
Sunny
Overall Rank = 5/217
Age Group = M40-49
Age Group Rank = 2/
Had a Nutrigrain bar before heading out with my wife--we were both racing this. This is a very small "fun run" event that attracts a few serious runners. Got talked into entering by a duathlete friend two years ago because the temple that puts the race on was in the neighborhood of the Celtic Arts Center and my friend and I were both serving on the Center's board. So it was a "neighborly" gesture. Last year, my wife entered, too, and we both PR'ed--and some other Center members came out to cheer (and join us for brunch afterward). This year, the Celtic Arts Center has moved to a new location and my friend was having a birthday bash last night...so it was down to just my wife and me.
After onsite registration, I stretched and did a few strides. Felt comfortable...though I did tweak something in my rib cage while stretching. Turned out not to be an issue. This race involves the whole pack traveling 2 1/2 blocks from the registration/finish area to the start line...from past experience, Liz and I knew we could jog that as a final warmup. Got myself up at the front...I was in the top 12 overall the last two years and expected to finish higher this year. (My wife wanted to hang back, but I suggested she seed herself close to the front...she's much faster than most of the field in a fun run event like this...turned out to be wise advice, I think...)