I was nervous about the pace as this was my first "speed work" race and therefore didn't know what to expect out of the miles + miles of sole base training.

Time spent in Zones pretty much sums up the race for me:

Zone 1 - 1:48
Zone 2 - 4:02
Zone 3 - 5:08
Zone 4 - 23:34
Zone 5 - 10:42

As the HR data shows, I raced this course flat-out ...either at or slightly above my elusive and yet-to-be-discovered AnT/LT.

Pacing was an issue - didn't have a groove to get in and ride through the race. Was definitely feeling the effects of a haphazard pace by mile 4.5 ... but did not want to let up as I knew a PB was potentially on the line.

Also, hydration is something I definitely have to work on. For this distance, I knew it was not going to be the deciding factor. That being said, I only had 1 sip of water at mile 2.5 as I did not want to slow down to drink/breathing too hard ... and then only 2 to 3 sips at mile 5, which I did slow to a walk to drink down.

No gu or other nutrition throughout the race.

Waited at the finish line for my friends + my new "acquaintance".


Two major inhibitors: efficiency in motion (I know that I am an inefficient runner and not gaining the most out of my stride, posture stinks and footstrike leaves much to be desired) and inexperience in establishing a nice, smooth, even pace throughout the course.


I hate to even mention this b/c for me it was not the focal point of the race, but within mile 2 or 3 (guessing beginning of mile 3 or end of mile 2 due to splits), I was passing a guy on his right as there was a solid wall of people on the left.

After I called "on your right", he leaned in with his arm tucked + shoulder down and shoved me hard. I was stunned ... and shoved him back. The guy started talking trash - to the point that I cocked back my arm and was going to lay one right across the nose.

As I was about to follow through with the swing, I asked myself what a Sunday School teacher/follower of the Prince of Peace, father of 3, dude running the pace of his life while wearing a Grateful Dead hat was doing ...

As he ducked and peaked, I instead wagged my finger and ran on ... and proceeded to beat myself up over the next mile or so until I came to the conclusion that I would wait for him at the finish line to apologize. Not for what he did, but for stooping to lose my temper.

I waited for ~8 minutes at the finish line and did not see him/recognize him (although I was pretty recognizable wearing a yellow cycling jersey).

I add this for two reason: (1) strange thing to happen during a road race and (2) they say that confession is the first step to forgiveness (and, in this case, I have to forgive myself for letting someone get to me like that).

So dude, if you're out there ... I apologize for losing my temper.

In the end, it was a good race. All but one of my friends were able to obtain a Peachtree 1A qaulifying time (means that you are elibible for the lottery to run right after the pro's and therefore do not have to run with the horde in the upper seeds) and got to meet Tony (Tribesman) at the end of the race.