The start was a bit hectic as the canal is a bit narrow and there were a lot of folks at the front. Within the first few 100 yards, there was a lot of jostling for position. Once that settled down, I was in a group of about 15-20 people. There was a smaller lead group of about 10 which had formed a little gap. I settled into what I felt would be the appropriate pace and effort. At the first mile marker, i split my time and checked my HR for the first time. It was 172, exactly where I wanted it to be. The split time was 5:34, which I thought was really quick.

The field around me began to get strung out and I found myself in no man's land between the lead group of 10 and the chase group behind me. The leaders were about 10 seconds up from me and were running single file intop a bit of a headwind. As we approached the turn, one of the lead pack guys dropped back and I passed him, moving into what looked like 9th OA. I could see 1st place already making the trun and heading to the 2 mile marker across the canal. He was a good 30 seconds up on me and was flying. He ran a 21 and change.

I made the trun over a bridge and began to head back. The 2 miel marker came up and I split it again with a 5:58. I realize now that the first mile marker was short and this one was a bit long, which accounts for the big spread in the two splits even though I was running the same pace. Now we had a tail wind and the lead chase group was still only a 10 seconds or so ahead of me. At around 2.5 miles, another guy dropped off and I passed him, moving into 8th. I could see 1st and 2nd had moved even further ahead, so it was a race for 3rd. I continued to stay steady, kept my HR pegged at 172-173 and held on. I felt good, smooth and even. Another two runners dropped back and I passed them and moved into the 6th spot.

Mile 3 came and I split at 5:52, which i figured was spot on. I could see allt he way down the canal to the turn and the short leg back to the finish. 3rd was looking strong but 4th and 5th looked close enough to catch. With about 100 yards prior to the bridge and the tunr back to the finish, I came up along the 5th place guy. He was starting to get a little ragged and I used a slight incline to put the pass on and keep it on. I crossed the bridge and now 4th was about 10 feet in front of me with about 150 yads to go.I gathered myself up and really started to push. He could hear me and adjusted his pace faster. Every effort I made he matched perfectly, I just couldn't get to his shoulder. I could have reached out and touched him but I couldn't get by and he crossed 1 second in front of me.

I really feel that I paced this race well. I have good patience and run my race and let the field come back to me. I had a similar experience in the Skirt Chaser 5K and I think it's very helpful and good to know how to be patient in a race.

We hnug around for awards as Jamie also ran a great race despite her IT issue's and lack of training. She was 5th OA female and 1st in her AG of 30-39, which had 80 women in it! She just missed running sub 7 pace, she ran 7:04's. amazing considering she hasn't done any speed work!