I'm really proud of this race - last year it was my first 5 miler, I barely finished sub-60, and I was WRECKED for a few days. This year, I ran the loop once before the race, and then felt really good the entire second loop. Kept it conservative the first 2.5, then as soon as I hit the sharp turn/steep hill, slowly picked it up. I focused on speeding up a little up each hill (the hills that seemed like mountains last year), and after the turnaround point the only person that passed me was an 8 year old boy. I passed a LOT of people. On the windy backstretch, I tucked in behind a woman running about my speed. She sped up a bit, but I stayed with her to conserve energy. When the course turned just before the 4 mile mark and went up hill, I dropped her. She finished about a minute or so behind me. Coming around the last turn to the finish I got stuck behind 4 people running abreast, I had to really pick it up to run outside the finish chute and back around them. I kicked it up the chute and finished sounding like I was about to die... all in all, a success.

not one thing. :) I was supposed to be running and just slower than MP today... so I already wasn't listening to my coach.

huffed and puffed, drank about a liter or so of water, left.


all in all, a super successful day.