Started off nice and conservatively and let the crowd break the wind. Thanks to the late self seeding call and the hills, thing sorted themsleves out pretty quickly and I started moving forward by the first set of uphills. I got into a nice rhythm and passed 15-20 people on the uphill and and downhill to the first mile. Ran the down hills very well today as I seemed to make up ground on each one. About a mile and a half in I was side my side with a dude who periodically would let out a loud moan/groan, but he decided to surge and not let me pass. So I dropped back a bit and let the long hill taking us to the end of the second mile do its damage but, he held in there. The hills did slow me down as well especially the final 2 which I ran the other direction this morning. I caught the groaner just as a guy in a Philly Marathon shirt caught me, and dusted me off on the last hill. Had two of the fast woman catch me on that loop as well and then we turned for home and the groaner was sprinting to the finish. Didn't figure he was in my AG so I let him go. Did feel to great about the race but it wasn't bad given the course and conditions (cold and windy)

Get a bit more pumped up pre race and go hard early and hang on. This course made it hard to gain ground on anyone who wasn't dying.

Walked around a bit and then decided to jog another loop. A nice jog helped my loosen up and see the wind and hills again. 3.1 mile cooldown. I caught the last five walkers, but they had broken down the clock. Jogged past the finish where the volenteer tried to stop me to get my tag again. Ran back to the Commons for the post race food and awards. Saw Neil from work and it tuens out his son finished 2nd O/A and another member of his group finished 5th. Really was not expecting to hear the Race Director announce my name when the 40-49 AG came along, much less say I was first place. Very cool and a total shock. As of tonight, I still don't know how I placed overall, but I won my 40-49 AG debut. Woo Hoo!!!


Strategy. A 5k is just to short to let my stengths come into play. I need to run more agressively at the start and not give away ground at the start, because there isn't enough time to reel everyone back in over 3.1 miles. 10K, Half Marathon, yes but 5K no. Not a bad race however.


Good job with the race. Personally, I liked the downtown course better as this year's was less scenic and was through a more industrial area. Good course much more challenging, but less scenic and historic feeling. Still a good event.