I started about 1/3 of the way back in the crowd because I figured that was about where I’d finish in the overall. I guess I have to stop being nice and move further to the front. I spent the first ½ mile picking through slower runners, including running onto the shoulder and off the road. In a strange way, maybe that was a good thing as it kept my pace down for the first mile and allowed me to pace strong for the rest of the race.

After getting some free pavement, I settled in for an even effort on the next 2 miles. After about a mile, I hooked onto the heels of a guy going the same pace and just ran with him. My breathing was much harder than I had experienced during training at the 7:00 pace; I assume due to the humidity. But I felt pretty comfortable to be running at 6:50-7:00 for that stretch.

We were still passing people until the last ½ mile, when everyone just kind of seemed to settle into the final kick and I maintained the pace best I could.

I was actually fading a little at the end as I had nothing left. My final paces from the Garmin showed 7:15 for the last .13. I feel like I gave everything I had physically, though I still need to do some more racing as opposed to running to get mentally stronger the last 5 minutes and push myself beyond.

Not too much. Maybe start more up front. This is about the edge of my current run fitness. This was a flat/downhill course, so the time is actually probably faster than I'd run a "typical" 5k around here.

Walked back to the car and went to get Z. No time to even enjoy the post race food!


Training, genetics, mental toughness? In the end, this was a great effort for me.


Never having done a 5k, it seems like a lot of activity for a 3 mile race! but it was really well put together, very organized and a nice race. I didn't stay around for the after race stuff, so no clue how that food/post race activities fared.