For 2008 I had a goal to run at least one race every month. I ran 16 in all. For 2009 my goal is to run a 5k every month in addition to any other races I decide to run (and since I have a few that are on my schedule as goal marathons or halfs, and a number of races that I ran for the first time last year and want to do again, and several that are on the list by way of being traditional now, it looks like I'll average about two races a month).
My "January" 5k was the Super Bowl 5k at Washington Park. Even before I got to the park, I knew it was going to be a solid race. The set list that KBPI played on the radio during my drive over was filled with hard-and-fast song after song, including some Five Finger Death Punch, some Stabbing Westward and Nickelback, and ending with "Back In Black" by AC/DC. By the timme I got to Washington Park, I was pysched up and primed for a solid race. Even the fact that I mistook the starting time and showed up better than an hour and a half before the race (while Keri and the BKB staff were still setting up the sign-in tents) didn't dampen my spirits.
When people did start showing up for the race, I quickly spotted a few folks from my training group, Runner's Edge of the Rockies: not only Keri but also Laura, Susan, Martha, and Bret (who was there as a volunteer). I spent some time chatting with them before heading out for a 2-mile warmup. Then, after the National Anthem and a kid's race, it was go time!
With my iPod loaded up with my "Fast Race Mix" (which I'm going to have to add to after that radio set this morning . . . man there were some great songs in there!), I set off and quickly settled into a fast sub-8 minute pace. Actually I topped out at better than 6-minute pace for a little there, towards the start. It always happens, without fail: I get caught up in the excitement and have to force myself to slow down (only a little) to avoid burning out.
I had a pretty good experience with very pointedly *not* looking at my Garmin at my last 5k in December, so I decided to do that again here (although I did check at the very beginning, to make sure I'd actually started the damn thing this time). Instead I ran by feel, settling into what I thought would be a good pace for the whole race. When I started to feel myself getting ahead of myself in the first mile, though, I pulled back for the second one. I walked through the aid station just before the 2-mile mark, slapping a high 5 to Bret. It's always great to have people cheering for me on the course, and Bret's enthusiasm is fantastic.
I picked it up again for the third mile. At about 2.5, I was passed by a man wearing a bright green shirt. He was running a good pace, slightly faster than I had been (obviously), but one I felt I could handle for the last half mile. So I let him be my rabbit, staying about a tenth of a mile back. As we came up to the turnoff for the last quarter mile, I decided that enough was enough. It was time to get my lead back. So I picked up my pace a little. I figured I would do a slow build until I caught up with him, then turn it up to full and zip right past him for a solid finish.
It didn't work out quite that way, however. As I caught up to him with less than 0.1 miles to go, I heard him mutter, "Finally, a reason." Then, to my utter and absolute surprise, he turned on the juice himself! By that time I'd reached about a 6:01 pace. But he pushed me even harder. I had no choice but to turn it "up to 11" and power through. But he stuck with me like glue. It was quite literally a photo finish, and easily the most exciting end to a race I've ever had.
I turned to him and shook his hand, congratulating him on an excellent finish. He thanked me for giving him a reason to run hard. The official results show us with the same time, but even he agreed that I had edged him out in the end (although I thought I barely beat him, he said I had him by a good half-second). Thanks, Mark for giving me an excellent finish!
My "January" 5k was the Super Bowl 5k at Washington Park. Even before I got to the park, I knew it was going to be a solid race. The set list that KBPI played on the radio during my drive over was filled with hard-and-fast song after song, including some Five Finger Death Punch, some Stabbing Westward and Nickelback, and ending with "Back In Black" by AC/DC. By the timme I got to Washington Park, I was pysched up and primed for a solid race. Even the fact that I mistook the starting time and showed up better than an hour and a half before the race (while Keri and the BKB staff were still setting up the sign-in tents) didn't dampen my spirits.
When people did start showing up for the race, I quickly spotted a few folks from my training group, Runner's Edge of the Rockies: not only Keri but also Laura, Susan, Martha, and Bret (who was there as a volunteer). I spent some time chatting with them before heading out for a 2-mile warmup. Then, after the National Anthem and a kid's race, it was go time!
With my iPod loaded up with my "Fast Race Mix" (which I'm going to have to add to after that radio set this morning . . . man there were some great songs in there!), I set off and quickly settled into a fast sub-8 minute pace. Actually I topped out at better than 6-minute pace for a little there, towards the start. It always happens, without fail: I get caught up in the excitement and have to force myself to slow down (only a little) to avoid burning out.
I had a pretty good experience with very pointedly *not* looking at my Garmin at my last 5k in December, so I decided to do that again here (although I did check at the very beginning, to make sure I'd actually started the damn thing this time). Instead I ran by feel, settling into what I thought would be a good pace for the whole race. When I started to feel myself getting ahead of myself in the first mile, though, I pulled back for the second one. I walked through the aid station just before the 2-mile mark, slapping a high 5 to Bret. It's always great to have people cheering for me on the course, and Bret's enthusiasm is fantastic.
I picked it up again for the third mile. At about 2.5, I was passed by a man wearing a bright green shirt. He was running a good pace, slightly faster than I had been (obviously), but one I felt I could handle for the last half mile. So I let him be my rabbit, staying about a tenth of a mile back. As we came up to the turnoff for the last quarter mile, I decided that enough was enough. It was time to get my lead back. So I picked up my pace a little. I figured I would do a slow build until I caught up with him, then turn it up to full and zip right past him for a solid finish.
It didn't work out quite that way, however. As I caught up to him with less than 0.1 miles to go, I heard him mutter, "Finally, a reason." Then, to my utter and absolute surprise, he turned on the juice himself! By that time I'd reached about a 6:01 pace. But he pushed me even harder. I had no choice but to turn it "up to 11" and power through. But he stuck with me like glue. It was quite literally a photo finish, and easily the most exciting end to a race I've ever had.
I turned to him and shook his hand, congratulating him on an excellent finish. He thanked me for giving him a reason to run hard. The official results show us with the same time, but even he agreed that I had edged him out in the end (although I thought I barely beat him, he said I had him by a good half-second). Thanks, Mark for giving me an excellent finish!
Official time: 25:27
Total races: 2
YTD Race miles: 29.4
YTD Total miles: 72.4
Photo finishes: 1
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