After my first taper week for Boston I honestly didn't know what to expect in this race. I had run an 18:19 5k three weeks ago during high mileage, which I know wasn't the best time I could lay down.

I was targeting a time around 37:30 in this race, and figured holding a 6:00-6:05ish pace would get me there. However, I felt good from the start and let quite a few overzealous fools sprint away from me. I settled into a good pace, feeling nice and loose for the first two miles.

The middle miles of this race are along the water, and in previous years this part as been miserable with 20+ mph headwinds. This year had light winds, and I was able to maintain my pace, pacing through the 5k mark right around 18:15. At this point I questioned whether I'd be able to hold my pace. I decided I wouldn't know unless I tried, so I dug in and started to reign in runners ahead of me.

In the last 2.5 or so miles I passed about 4-5 runners including a member of the Greater Boston Track Club in the last 100 yards, finishing with a kick I never knew I had. The last .27 came in at just over 5:00 pace. I grabbed my knees after finishing, shocked I was able to run a 10k at a faster pace than I had run a 5k in three weeks earlier.

I'm obviously quite pleased with the result, and may be reassessing my plan for the Boston Marathon, two weeks from tomorrow.

Nothing - it went very well.

Got a nice massage - first runner to do that, so no wait!

Walked around, waiting for my college friend Christina to finish up. I hadn't seen her in two years, and it was great to catch up.


Nada!


Good confidence booster heading into Boston. My goal for Boston is to break 3:00, and I'm feeling like that could happen. I'll go out conservatively, but if things are feeling good after Heart Break Hill, watch out!!