It was a good day and race. The weather was perfect; sunny and about 67 F degrees at the beginning of the race. I had previously written that my goal was to run a trio of 9 minute miles. Considering the road back I’ve had, this is a pretty ambitious goal. My 9 year old son also ran in the race with me. I believe we had just over 200 people in the race with us. At the start I kept peeking at my GPS so I could settle down in a 9 minute mile pace. Anyone that has run in a race knows just how loud and crazy the start can be. I’d forgotten how loud the clip-clap of those clod hopper running shoes everyone wears. I normally key off of my own cadence to find my rhythm. However, this was impossible with all the loud running shoes surrounding us. Once we were about half a mile in things thinned out and I only sparingly checked my GPS. This is also when my son took off into a pace more suited for him. This kid is a natural born runner. He hasn’t done any running with me to prepare for the race, but at 9 years old he can still smoke me in the 5K.
About 1.5 miles into the race I could see people paying for coming out too quick at the beginning. At 2 miles in I really set my sights on a couple of runners that I’d been behind since the start of the race. They pretty much kept a 30 yard lead on me the whole way. As we rounded the last turn in the course I decided it was now or never, so I dug deep and kicked up my pace to a 7 minute mile with about 1000 meters left. With only about 600 meters left I was now on their heels. The people along the road cheering were yelling “You got a person on your tail –PUSH IT!”. I thought to myself that takes the fun out of the sneak attack from behind. With VFFs being so quite by the time they realize I’m passing them it’s too late!
I rolled into my finishing kick and ended up passing two other people that I had thought were out of my reach. They must have gassed out and had nothing left at the end.
It’s always a good feeling when nobody passes you during your final kick. I had managed a 27:05 finishing time. My peak heart rate hit 205 as it always had during my kick. I was feeling light headed but very accomplished. I had surpassed my goal time! My pace averaged out to a trio of 8:44 minute miles. The only thing I was left thinking was did I hold back too much at the beginning – no I don’t think so – I’m just happy right now.
I meet up with the in-laws and asked them about my son. They told me he had finished up with a 25:38 time. This kid is killing me! He doesn’t train and just clicks off a 25 minute 5K. I’ve really got to get him training with me so we can find out what he can do. However, that will have to wait because football camp starts on Monday.
I finished 5th in my age group and my son won the 10 year old and under division. Before the start of the race I noticed 3 guys in racing suits. Come to find out they were part of a triathlon club. Would you like to take a wild stab at who finished 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in my age division?
Rgs, Jeepman
