Right away I could sense there were a fair share of sub 20 5k runners; unlike the last local race. I started out much easier than my last 5k three weeks ago and still managed to stay a half dozen strides behind the lead pack for about a 1/4 mile. After about a half mile they took off, and that was fine with me. I wanted to try and maintain a 6:20-ish pace. I didn't want to go 5:50 like the first mile in my last 5k and then feel like I was going to die or pass-out the last mile! Instead I stayed a little more within myself and I felt like it was going to pay-off as I only slowed down a little bit my the end of the second mile, which was close to my "plan". The last mile was entirely flat and mostly straight with one turn, downhill, and then a straightaway to the finish. The "plan" was to stay steady for the first and second mile, and then throw the after-burners on for the final mile. When I hit the third and final mile, and had nothing but football fields of flat, perfectly straight pavement in front of me, I hit the after-burners but not much happened. I felt like Han Solo in the Millennium Falcon. I knew their were enemy ships (runners) right on my tail and I said aloud, "Lightspeed Chewie!" but lightspeed was a dud. As 3CPO states, "the hyperdrive motivator must be damaged!" And the only way to fix my whose-it-was-it-drive motivator is with some TRACK WORK.

Not set unrealistic goals, such as a sub 20 minute 5k, when I am physically not capable of it ...yet.

Lack of TRACK WORK and SPEEDWORK.


This was an excellent local race, scenic course (partially along water), and I can't wait to race it in the warmer weather.