I started several rows back because I find it more fun to pick people off than to start up with the big boys and then have people pick me off. I was chatting with a faster friend (Andy) at the start and decided to try and keep him in eye sight for the first mile or so.

The first mile went pretty smooth. I had a fun moment when I destroyed a hill and a guy I passed on the way up who was struggling said, "Man you made that look easy". If the race is only 5K and there's a hill, nobody is beating me up it. Of course, everyone beats me gong down on the other side because I haven't quite figured that part out yet! I blame my buddy who got me into running back in 2000. We'd always attack the hills.

I lost sight of Andy shortly thereafter but that was fine. I was passing folks and feeling good. Just shy of 3 miles I realized the course was going to be long. I saw three people up ahead and decided to catch em. I passed two and the next person looked like he might have been in my age group so in the last 20 feet I sprinted as fast as I could and I thought I got him at the line (turned out he got me by 3 tenths of a second... but I think I would have got him if the chip had been on my other foot ;) ) but it didn't matter since he wasn't in my age group. I look like a tool in the photo at the finish, but hey, it was a race and a Possum plaque was on the line!



First place in my age group was about 20 seconds ahead and I think I could have easily found 20 seconds in there. But instead of racing at a 10 I was more at an 8.5. I have bigger fish to fry this year than a 5K

Sat around and waited for Mei to finish. Walked a bit back through the course and met up with her and encouraged her to a PR and a 3rd place AG finish!


Nothing really. Felt good today.


Another awesome $3 race put on by the ORRRC!