Started out conservatively, but was still at faster pace than my initial plan. I felt ok and let some people pass me in 1st mile. Kept it conservative until past Mile 3 (HR below 155) or so then started to increase pace. Was able to reel in the 3 or 4 people that were ahead of me that I wanted to catch. Was within 10 seconds of my last target but he also finished strong. Started going harder after mile 7 (past 160 HR). Did final pass around Mile 8. Good race overall, especially since it's my first 15K race. I have more faith on McMillan Running Calculator now - I thought it was predicting a result from my April 5K that was too optimistically fast - but I actually finished very close to my predicted McMillan time (I was off by 7 seconds!) - even though I was pretty conservative.

Probably could've picked up the pace a little sooner, after Mile 2 but I was being conservative and wanted to make sure I had enough to finish comfortably. For half marathon in 5 weeks, plan will be to take first 2 miles to settle in, then stay between 155-160 until Mile 11 then open it up.

Ran for about half a mile and stretched. Had my First Endurance recovery drink and helped cheer finishers at the finish line.


No experience running a stand-alone race past 5K; additional training (had a little setback due to calf injury running too fast of a tempo for too long).


This race went very well for a small local race EXCEPT for one flaw. There was a loop on the 15K course that was added and the signs said 5K straight ahead (with an arrow pointing straight) and 15K to the right (arrow pointing right). Race Director made an assumption that it would be obvious that a racer who had finished 1 loop would then go straight to the finish after they finished one loop. The volunteer there wasn't a sharp one either and didn't seem to know what to tell the runners. I know of at least half a dozen people who ended up doing another loop and did not finish (the loop was about 3 miles long). Happy with results though - 2nd Overall Masters (10 seconds behind winner), 1st in AG, and 10th overall for my first Top 10 (yes, it's a small local race with only about 100 participants in the 15K but was still happy to finish in top 10% in my first run race longer than 5K).