I started out running with Jeff, but at about a mile, he realized that the pace we were keeping, about 7:51, was too fast for him at his level of fitness after not really doing long runs much this year. I felt okay, although my legs were a little heavy for about the first half of the race. I think that running on a flat course is like riding a bike on a flat course-- it's nice not to have hills, but it presents its own challenges, since the stresses on your legs are the same, and there's no opportunity to rest and/or accelerate on downhills. The race was very crowded, and especially early on it was almost like a trail run in that you had to pay close attention to your feet or you could easily trip over one of the other runners, and it was difficult to settle into a pace because so many people were running this way and that, slowing down and speeding up, etc. It never really opened up for long, so you had to be vigilant throughout. I chose not to wear my mp3 player, in part just for a change, but also realizing that it's good practice for Eagleman, so I had the pleasure (?) of hearing a guy answer his cell phone during the early part of the run. There wasn't much talking during the run, as it seemed I was in a pace group of people who were pushing themselves too much to be chit-chatting. Kathy, who actually acquitted herself very well for her level of training, was back in the 9:30 pace group, and said there was WAY too much yakking for her preference. I pushed myself a fair amount in the last two miles (when the Wash. Monument was visible again), my pace perhaps a little limited by the incline before the finish, and I felt pretty much spent by the end. It was a fun run all the way.

Nothing, really. I got a PR for the distance, so I'm happy with my run. Too bad it's not under my name, since I was using a borrowed race number. ;-)

Walked to get some water, then back to see Jeff finish about two minutes behind me. Probably the only time I'll get to beat him! We then waited for Kathy, got some food (not much there, just muffins and bananas) and walked back to the car.


Not tapering, I guess. I swam for 45 minutes and rode for two hours on Friday before the race.