With a HIM next week I was debating as to how hard to run this race. I mostly entered because it was a means by which we could see some family who were running as well...and I like to race. The closer it got to the race, the more I wanted to go hard. I decided to let the race come to me, and if my pace was fast I'd go for a PR, and if my poace was off then I'd stay in upper Z2/lower Z3 for 10 miles and push the 5k. Knowing that my PR pace was 7:11, I was a little surprised to see 7:07 at the first split - 4 seconds in the bank. Next mile had a bridge, so 7:11 - didn't loose any ground. The next 2 miles would tell the tale. 7:08, hmmm, 7 seconds in the bank. 7:16? Where did that come from? Still 2 sec to the good. 7:11, no change. 7:13, lost 2 and now I'm back to even. Well, that kind of ticked me off because I wasn't running out of gas, I was getting lazy. I was letting the other runners around me dictate my pace. Alright, let's refocus, push a little harder and se what we've got. 7:03, whoa - 8 sec in the black. Bridge coming up, and...7:07 - I put seconds in the bank with the bridge, very good sign. 7:01, now we're feelin' it. I started passing runners coming into town. While a lot of runners were starting to loose a little, I've been training for a much longer event and the experiences I've gathered from past races and training gave me a boost of confidence at this point. I told myself not to start the final push too hard, I had a lot of time in the bank, but there were still 4 miles to go. I backed off a hair and took a gel at mile 10...I guess I should have paid a little more attention to the aid station placement, the next water stop wasn't until mile 11. Tell me this was not going to be my undoing. It turned out to be no big deal. I got my drink and turned up the gas. Not long after the aid station I get passed by a girl in a red shirt. Cool, a rabbit. She was my pace setter to the finish. Last year I managed to run the last 3 miles under 7:00/mi, and that was my goal again this year. So #11 comes up 6:58 - I feel good, let's do it. I am staying with the girl in the red shirt but cannot catch her. We are steady passing people as the finish line comes into view. 6:50 - on track, let's get after it. I narrow the distance, she pulls away. I get a little closer, but cannot sustain. 6:48 - got it! Go hard, go hard. Look at my watch...you gotta be kidding me. I never thought I had this race in me. PR by almost 1:30.

Nothing. Negative split. Sub 7 for the last three miles, bettered last year's time by 4:32, PR by 1:26, top 2.3% of my AG, top 1.9% OA. This was as good as it gets.

I congatulated the girl who paced me in. It was her second race - kids. I drank, I walked. Saw Joel, and briefly chatted with him. Went in search of Brenda and the kids.



Age, years of poor eating habits, inactivity, and genetics. I keep thinking I should have done more speed work this summer, but then again...


My post-race euphoria was short lived. When I ran into Brenda, it turned out that the kids had been bratty all morning, so I took Buck, grabbed a little food, then headed back to the motel instead of to the beach.

Product review: Amino Vital Citrus and Fruit Punch. Verdict: Pffft! I like the Lemon-lime and love the Grape, but these two new flavors leave a lot to be desired. Too dilute, at least as pre-mix.