I didn't expect to put up a PR on this race knowing that it was going to be hot with an evening start and having run this course hundreds of times it's just not a fast 5k course at all. The two loop format which means you have to climb out of the basin twice just makes for a slow, hard 5k; give me flat any day.

Being a small event I knew I had a chance at a podium if not an OA win so I made my way to the front of the start line and challenged the lead right away. Lining up I spotted a few people that I thought looked like they could be contenders but within the first mile only one of the three was still there and shortly after a mile he pulled around me. I let him go thinking perhaps he would blow up later on but it wasn't to be.

This is the point I struggled. The leader was a good 20 seconds in front of me but third place was so far back I knew I had second wrapped up and because of that, I didn't leave it all out there. I was a bit fried from training and my asthma was bothering me a bit with the heat so I just picked a pace that felt semi ok and went with it. Also, being a small event there was no support on the course other than the start/finish so I was pretty much running alone the entire way. No big deal but it showed me how much I like having a cheering section to keep me motivated.

Hit the first loop map at something like 8:45 which shows how much I backed off on the second lap. Climbing out of the basin on my second lap just torched me and it took a half mile to recover from that effort. Started closing in on the leader a bit in the last half mile but he was too far in front to have any chance of catching him and really, I think he was just on cruise control.

Not a whole lot, maybe treated meals through the day a little better. Probably should have started a little bit slower but I thought I might be able to blow up the others by really pushing it off the gun. For being in a bike/swim focus and really just laying back on my run training I'm happy with my result on this course. On a flat course it's a sub 18 effort any day.

walked around for a bit, grabbed some water and stretched. Hung out until awards and claimed my $50 gift cert for the local running store.


Middle of training build, asthma


for a local, $15 5K race this one rocked. This is what running races are about, no medals (even though they gave out shirts), organized, fun.