Run Like Hell - Run5k

In years past I would stick in the middle of the pack at the start, which meant I spent the first mile dodging and weaving. This year they had changed the start line and you had to walk past it from where we parked. So I just walked into the front row, and stopped and turned around when I had reached the end of the super skinny spandex people (about 4 rows deep). I don't know if it was the costume but I was feeling super pumped and decided costume or not I was going to go balls to the wall after a PR.

The gun sounded and off we went. The first half mile was the most fun I've ever had at this race. Who knows how much energy I spent yelling "What are you gonna do when Hulkamania runs wild on you" and "The Hulkster's been eating his vitamins brother" as I passed people. I vaguely remembering ripping my shirt open (I had cut it down the middle and sewed in velcro strips for repeat rippings) when the race pack came across a wayward vehicle in the way.

At this point I realized for the first time in the 7 years I've ran this race I was out in the open and not fighting crowds. In fact, we were single file as we started the uphill heading towards the cemetery. And to my shock and surprise the race volunteer called out "6:20" as we hit the first mile.

Whoa. I don't think I've ever ran a 6:20 mile before. Where the heck did that come from? With a Feater Boa and a Championship Belt on?

I didn't feel too bad, but I was definitely breathing heavy as we hit the cemetery. Usually the hill up to the top is brimming with runners and I get bogged down in traffic. Not this year. I motored up the hill (which seemed like nothing after those hills in the Flying Pig Half and the Papa John's 10 Miler) and before I knew it I was on my way out. No one was passing me and I wasn't passing anyone. I felt all alone out there. In a race with 2000 people!

Mile marker 2 appeared. In previous years I would hear "15:30" and knew that once again a PR would be out of my reach. This year I heard "13:50".

Whoa.

At this point I was feeling a bit tired but really.... when you've done 26.2 what's a mile after you've only done 2? I sucked it up and peeled out of the cemetery (seeing a flood of hard running people headed into the cemetery). I knew only one thing and one thing only could stop my PR attempt. That last hill. That hill that bent me over in 2001 in my first ever 5K when I had to stop and walk.

This year I bent the hill over. I passed several people on my way up and I knew this year would be the year. I stormed down the other side to the left hand turn to the finish. I could see the clock flashing, and as I crossed the line with my Championship Belt held high over my head it read 21:30, a PR by 5 seconds, on a course that was much harder than the course I set my PR in last year.



Not a damn thing.

Well maybe I could have ditched the Feather Boa and Championship Belt, but I probably would have lost all the adrenaline. I think my new goal for this race (old goal was to go Sub 7) is to hit the Top 50 Men. But man that will be some work.... 2165 participants and I can't even sniff the Top 50 with a 21:30 (#50 came in at 19:54)

I walked over to the water yelling all sorts of stuff ("I got you this year you bastard!"). I wish my running partner had been there to celebrate with me. I grabbed some water and waited to cheer on my wife and some friends as they finished the race.


Probably spending the first half mile telling everyone I passed to eat their vitamins.




I only wish this race would record the results of everyone and not just the top 50 males and females.