 posted May-28-2007 07:25 PM
   
So, this is the race that all the big dogs show up to hunt at. I was hoping to chase some of them to a good race. Realistic goal -- PR. Stretch goal -- sub 17. 50% success rate.Short version: 68th male out of 297
69th overall out of 484
15th out of 91 in the M 40 to 49 AG As for the race. I came into this on less than stellar legs. Coach has decided that we need to work on RAW speed, so I did a nasty speed workout on Thursday (see 40/40 thread if you are interested). Since then, my whole right side has been less than optimal. Quad, hamstring and ITB all tight. So much so, I had KeeMan take a rolling pin to the leg on Saturday night to try to work out the kinks. It worked -- kind of. Got up EARLY for a 15 minute shake out session 3 hours before the race. Got to the race and did another 2.85 as a warm-up. Broke out my new race warm-up Playlist: Hey You -- Pink Floyd
Summertime Rolls -- Jane's Addiction
Bad -- U2
If I was your girlfriend -- Prince
Pop Life -- Prince
Cocaine Blues -- Johnny Cash
The Likes of You Again -- Flogging Molly
Perfect People -- Pennywise
In My Eyes -- Minor Threat Those last three really got the blood pumping!!! So, Brian and I positioned ourself about 10 feet from the start line, right in sight of a local woman olympic qualifier for the marathon (we figured she was going to run about our goal pace). Brian told me beforehand , when I go by him during mile 2, do not say anything because he is going to stay with me. I held him to this!!! So, the starter says the "G" word and we are off. I guess a lot of people didn't realize that this is the MN 5k Championship race -- there are MANY people up front who are serving only as speed bumps.  Brian does a good job of elbowing his way threw, and I bob and weave as best I can. After about a half mile, we have decent space to run. It's amazing at how crowded it is! Usually, if you get out hard, you find some space -- not in this race!!! I look at my garmin around this time and see that we are running around 5:22 pace. I tell Brian, "just settle in." So, we just try to stay smooth. There are a few people around that we recognize, just trying to run. Mile 1 comes in 5:26 (according to my garmin). This is right on goal pace. STAY SMOOTH. At this point, Brian sees a local masters running who is quite speedy and decides to try to tuck in behind him. Unfortunately, his pace is a bit slower than goal. I pull along side and keep the pressure on. Brian follows (how closely?). Mile 2 comes in 5:34 -- uh oh -- hold on Rob!!! Up ahead, I see another masters runner that usually beats me. Can I catch him? Not today, but atleast I can chase him!!! Left Right, Left Right! I am still passing a few people here and there. Feel like I am maintaining. Mile 3 comes in 5:31.  43 seconds to the finish for a 17:16 (according to my watch). This is a nice PR. Negatives 1. I was outkicked at the finish by another 43 year old RIGHT AT THE FINISH because I didn't know he was there! He beat me by 1 second... This is the same person that Brian and I passed in mile 2. :argh: 2. Official results show me @ 17:20 -- still a PR, but 4 seconds slower than my watch. Oh well, what are you going to do? I am VERY happy with my effort in a stacked race! Also, I think that this is statistically my best race ever.  Unfortunately, Brian could not stay with me during mile 2 and finished in 17:33 (which I believe is still a PR for him). This gives me some satisfaction after the way he beats my a$$ when we do hills or track workouts!!! Thanks for reading. ------------------
Rob's Profile Rob's Training Log Edited to add -- afterwards, we had a little MN RED team party -- a gallon of scratch maragaritas made by the HermosaBoy disappeared VERY quickly! [This message has been edited by hermosaboy (edited May-28-2007).]
IP: Logged |
