Normally I go too hard in these things. I start out guns blazing only to crawl home. However, the last few races I've been able to pace myself much better and it's led to much stronger finishes. I had told myself I'd do 3 8-minute miles to start, then depending on how I felt I'd settle in around 8-min/mi or 8:15; and close out with a 23-23:30 minute 5K. I hit it right on the head, my second lap was 7:46 and my 5th lap was 8:14 but other than that I was hovering around--mostly under--8 min/mi, then I closed with miles of 7:24, 7:28, 7:19.

The first mile of my 'kick' at the end I felt fantastic, stronger than I had all race, and that carried on until about mile 12.5, when the overall running time and my elevated HR (I was sitting about 182-185 the last three miles) seemed to drag me down. It was a half-mile mini rollercoaster: I'd start to slouch, feeling the heaviness in the legs, the feet burning, my breath ragged. Then I'd stand tall, concentrate on good form and tell myself I was going sub-7:30 this last mile if it killed me. That battle continued through to the very end, and I'd like to say the good side won out but if I was truly strong I wouldn't have even let myself slouch for a second. Thankfully this was just a training run and not a big race for me, I'd be pretty disappointed if I let myself unravel like that in the last 800 meters.

However, that aside I'd say it was damn near a perfect race for me. I had a realistic goal time, broke that down into a solid strategy that I executed to a T. I beat my goal time by a little more than a minute, but I'm less happy about that than the simple fact that I was able to hit my goal time in every single mile of the race.

Nothing. Maybe grab one more cup of water along the course but that's a minor, minor quibble.

After I stopped my head from spinning I did a real abbreviated stretch, my buddy and I had to get out of there pretty quick so I didn't do as much as I would have liked.


Not being faster, simple as that. I'd say more tempo runs and speedwork but in the end it's just me not being a fast runner right now. More 40+ mile-per-week running weeks, if I keep this up for a year I'm willnig to bet I'll be faster.


Only thing keeping it from a 5 is no beer tickets. Most races I've done they give you at least one beer ticket, this one it was a cash bar. I'm not sure I would have even wanted a beer with an 80 min drive ahead of me, but I at least like the option.