I had a plan going into this - stick with my intervals so I wouldn't blow up, overheat, puke, etc, since I've only been back training for a touch over a month It was a good plan. It was a sensible plan.

And then the starting gun went off.

I know - plan your race, race your plan. But my plan was boring and it was much cooler than when I usually run, and I had two icepacks strapped to my femoral arteries (freezing those fuel bottles was a good idea!) - and it's hard to fight adrenaline, so why not just GO? :-D Despite this run being in a VERY spiffy neighborhood, I figured I couldn't be the first person that ever puked in a yard there.

And off we went. Figured I'd just run until I was thirsty or wanted to walk, then take a drink and run again, and it worked pretty well. I tried really hard to run at a comfortable pace as long as possible. (Which as weird as it sounds, it is really hard for me, since I really only have 3 speeds: running, walking and stopped.)

About 1/2 a mile in, there was a husband and wife in front of me - the husband looks back and asks, "Are you drafting off us?" *snort* I admitted that yes, yes I was - you need all advantages you can get, and we all got a good laugh out of that. Then we came upon some sprinklers and the wife & I went through them like a couple of kids on a sugar high, with the husband looking at us as if we'd both lost our minds. Is it ever really too early in a race to go through the sprinklers?

A bit later I came very close to showing a fellow runner what merits a 5 minute major penalty, and then taking her kid home with me. Let's just say I really, REALLY don't like it when adults start berating kids during these events. There is a big difference between encouragement and helpful tips and being a twit who makes a kid never see the potential for fun in these things.

Mile 1, I'm at a 11:43 pace. I know this is too fast. I know I will probably regret it later. I don't care, I'm having a good time.

Little past that I manage to scare the bejeezus out of a little kid walking along - leaned over and told him he was doing an awesome job and all of a sudden he took off like a rocket. Great, I'm the stranger talking to kids... Caught up with his Mom/chaperone (she was chasing 3 little ones on the course) and told her I didn't mean to scare him - she said no worries, they were all doing the "sprint like a banshee and then walk" routine and she was sure it was nothing I'd said.

Not too terribly long after that, I hear the Mom/chaperone say something to the effect of, "I think we missed the turn" (for the 1 mile walk route) - told her they were in fact still on the 5K course, and they'd already gone 1.5 miles. She seemed pleasantly surprised, and I'm sure the kids were probably ready to relax and walk and know they'd done their distance and then some.

Then things started to get a little more hilly. Not horrible, but hills nonetheless. I did manage to get a "you're going too fast!" alert from my Garmin - HAHAHAHAHA!!! - as I'm flying down a hill and just about to get to the bottom of it. I didn't worry too much as there was a nice uphill right after that which would take care of that pace problem.

Still feeling good, but slowing down - figure I'll walk the uphills, run the downhills, and try not to barf on the flats. It turned out to be a perfectly fine approach to things.

Average pace at mile 2 is 12:12 - more reasonable, but still much faster than I'd anticipated for today. Finally hit the aid station and I get my water and dump it on my head and down my shirt. I felt a little bad about turning this nice family charity event into a wet t-shirt contest, but I am sure I wasn't the only one, and WOW it felt good.

Around 2.5 miles that is the LOVELY lady who put her sprinklers on in her yard so they would go out into the street for the runners. I know I said thanks as I ran by, but she might not have heard it, so THANK YOU AGAIN NICE LADY!!!!!

The last .6 miles starts mainly flat, followed by the BEST finish section you could ever ask for - all downhill. I remembered the last turn that becomes the downhill from year before last and it's so very, very easy to just let it unroll and let gravity take over. Gotta love that.

I'm coming down the hill, so happy I'm almost done and I notice it's just a little too quiet... So, me being me, I yell at the top of my lungs, "Make some noise for us slow folks! We need it as much as anyone else!" Well, it worked and the crowd of folks I finished with got a very nice welcome into the chute.

Woohoo!

Finished with a 12:28 pace, and considering that my "serious stretch" pace was 12:33, I'm pretty pleased!!

Stumble through chute, get a bottle of water, dump half of it on my head and down my shirt. Get some July 4th beads, ask if I have to flash anyone for them. Parents, if your kids are asking, "Hey, what's flashing?", um, yeah, sorry about that.

Stretched a bit, walked about and grabbed some pizza. Post race, bagels taste like sawdust to me. But a good greasy slice of cheese pizza? Perfect. Then off to Bob Evans to continue the calorie-fest.


Probably the fact that I only started training again about a month ago...


Done it before and will do it again. Definitely would recommend to anyone!