AM: 5 easy miles
PM: Jim Gibbons 5K. This was one of those lucky days when I get to race on a weekday. That is one of the advantages of living in a big city. There are so many races that they spill over into the week sometimes.
The race was start was live on TV. This meant a lot of people trying to be up front, most of whom did not belong. Additionally that tried to squeeze about a thousand of us through a start corral only about 12 feet wide. I was expecting a live TV trampling, but I think it went off OK.
At the start 7 guys took off at sub-5 pace. Then there were about 5 of us at my pace. We went through the mile in 5:20. I felt really good.
About 1.25 into the race the other guys slowed so I pulled away. I was wearing my garmin which told me I was even slowing a bit. I've decided I really like the info it gives during races. From then on I was on my own. Mile 2: 5:30.
Started slowing a bit more on mile 3. One of the guys form the front pack dropped a little, but he never got gloser than about 50 yards. It was just me and Garmin trying to hold a good pace. Mile 3: 5:40. 0.1 in 36. Total 17:06.
I am fairly pleased with the effort. Dropped 24 seconds off of my time from last year. 80 degrees and sunny with a little wind.
I really believe that I am capable of a 16:30 5K. One of these days I will accomplish it. Probably with a appropriate taper and good weather. | 