Well, since this is a local hometown race, there is everyone there from your first timers to your experienced runners. Unfortunately that means you get walkers up front who get in the way for the first .25 mile or so. I had to do some weaving for the first .5 mile or so and I stayed near my dad during this time. I tried to keep the speed in reign but it didn't work well. When we hit the circle loop, the first place guy was already on his way down the road away from us. Kept up the pace.. even though it was starting to get a bit harder and my breathing was changing. It was nice to see so many families at the end of their driveways cheering us on. Hit the mile 1 mark and was feeling pretty good. A pre-race goal was not to stop running except the water stop and I made it to the water stop which was around 1.5 miles but really needed to take that walk. Did until I felt my heart rate go down and then I started running again. It was much tougher and I really wasn't sure I was going to be able to keep up the pace. I slowed up a bit and was trying to talk myself out of not walking over and over again. Passed a nursing home and they were all sitting outside cheering us on so I kept going. Hit the trail through the woods and I knew that we were starting to get closer... so I kept going. Then I could see the finish and all the people so I just deal with the breathing and pain and kept going hard. Then the finish line was there!

Not much... maybe not go out so hard but let's face it... that is pretty hard not to. I was very very happy with the run!

Felt like I was going to puke right across the line but got my chip cut off and found Dad right away because he crossed just about 35 seconds before me. We walked a bit and got something to eat and drink after picking up our finishers medals. Walked some more and waited for the results to go up. Met back up with Paul and he said I was sucking air at the end! Not nice Paul! Talked for a bit and then found the results which I was very happy with. Met back up with Paul to tell him the news and then headed out to go home for breakfast.


Lack of training... but that always seems to be the case. I am not a huge fan of running so I will always have a problem with it. Need to find a running group bad.


This was a nice 5k and I would race it again. I am also interested to see how the half and full marathon is. Unfortunately next year it will be very shortly after Ironman so we will see. But I will do it again!