Not only was it a hot morning, but a very humid one. It was like running through the steam room inside a terrarium. I was doing this race because I really wanted to get some redemption for my performance at last week's Sufferfest Half Mary, during which I melted like a snowman in the heat and humidity. Even though I fell short of PR-ing this race by four seconds, I was very happy with this performance, considering it was a much more challenging day on a hillier course than the race I set my PR (Germanfest '09). I'm looking forward to doing a few more 5K's this season to get that new PR!

One thing I'd do differently is seed myself more to the front of the pack. I still have a hard time believing it, but I am getting to be faster (though certainly not "fast") and I gave away precious seconds getting boxed in by slower runners at the beginning of the race.

It was like a 100-degree heat index. That pretty much makes a "warm down" impossible.


The ten extra pounds that are still clinging to my midsection like so much "Fluff" marshmallow topping.