I started out toward the back of the pack again. I had set my running buddy to try to run a 28:00 for the race. I swapped out the view about 1/4 mile in, so I could not tell how far ahead I was. I didn't really notice the pace, until I hit the first mile marker.

When I saw the timer, I about flipped 7:27 for my first mile arrggggg nooooo, I didn't mean to go that hard. I thought for sure I would blow up, but I felt great and was not having any major problems. So I just kept going.

The clouds had come back, when we started it looked pretty clear. Then about 1.5-1.8 miles into the race it was sprinkling and the clouds parted. I thought to myself "Where is the rainbow?" Started looking around for it, found it and that made me feel that much better. Running along and had a young gal (20 something) in front of me, sped up and pointed the rainbow out to her. She couldn't hear me, at first because of her MP3 player (dang things), sped up and told her about it. She found me after the race and thanked me for pointing it out to her. Said she was pretty tired at that point.

Past the 2 mile mark, sub 16:00. I could tell I was dropping speed, but I just kept pushing as best as I could. I was not thrilled with slowing 30 seconds over the mile, but 7:27 is a PR for a mile (since I begain running again) so hitting 8:03 is nothing too shabby.

Nothing really happening in the 2-3 mile area, had 2-4 people pass me, that was really all that past me the whole race. I was pushing and starting to feel the pain from the fast start. I knew I was not going to be able to push much harder at the finish. So I did what I could here. Hit the 3 mile mark, was having the stomic complain about how hard I had pushed. I DID not throw up this race, 2 reasons 1. nothing in there to toss 2. I am in better shape than I have been.

Pushed to finish strong, and crossed the line. When I was close enough to the finish line, I saw it reading 24:50.... WHATTTT!!!! I could not believe I had just run a 5K in 25 minutes. I tried to push to get under 25:00, but I just didn't have it to do it. Still 25:03 bests my old "offical" 5K PR by 1:27.

Maybe go out a little slower, so I had more at the end.

Walking around, grabbed a water some cookies and talked to some other runners.


I am THRILLED with this run. I still can't fathom that I ran this fast.


Great event, the ORRRC does a great job of putting these races together. They have done well on every race I have gone to with them.