Frostbite 5 Mile - Run5 Mile

It seems I've fallen into a pattern of running the first mile too fast and then paying for it the rest of the way. Of course, I've been setting PRs with this method so hey maybe it's not too bad.

Suffice to say, I got caught up in the pace and decided to not worry about what my forerunner was telling me. I hit the first mile at 6:24, which is the fastest I've ever hit a 1 mile marker in any race.

Probably not a good sign.

So yea, miles 1.5 to 4.75 were hard. I didn't pass a single soul. Luckily, not too many people passed me. For the most part, the roads were still covered from the previous week's snowstorm. Today it was pretty nice (~40 degrees) so it was warm enough for shorts... and warm enough for everything to start melting.

At times it was almost like running through quicksand and I'm just happy I didn't slip and fall. It did add a nice challenge I guess!

In the last quarter mile I made up my mind to try and pass two guys in front of me who were running stride for stride. They looked like they might be in my age group so I decided to go balls to the wall the final tenth of a mile. I don't think they heard me coming as they were focused on racing each other, and I blew by right at the line.

They handed me a number (#66) so I figured I was in 66th place and probably didn't place. I walk over to the tables to turn in the placard, and there is a long line for the 30-39 table, but nothing for the Under 29 table. I tell them I'm 28 and I see that I'm the first person in my age group to turn in a placard.

I figure the other people are out wandering around, but decide to stick around for the awards just in case. I head back out and cheer my wife on as she finished in a great time. At the award ceremonies the big moment comes and somehow I take away 1st in my age group. I have never won anything in races and I've been doing this since 2000. Finally! I'm in a age group where all the people are too busy with babies. I am not looking forward to that 30-34 age group come June 2010.





Maybe go slower that first mile? But hey... I guess I can't argue with the results! I thought I should go faster than the 7:14 pace I did at the Turkey Day 10K, but the road conditions were pretty brutal and I think that slowed everyone down. I'll take 7:21.

Great food! Bananas, cookies (I ate way too many damn cookies today), and all sorts of bread (Yay rye bread!).


The roads being covered in wintry mix!


This was a great race. Great food, awesome volunteers, and a good way to spend Super Bowl Sunday!