Amy suggested that if this wasn’t the best race for me, I should write it off as my “post marathon” event. I really want to come out here and tell y’all how that wasn’t needed, how I kicked this 5K’s arse and set a great new PR.

Well, at least I set a PR.

Let me back up a bit. I got to the course around 7:30 for the 8:00 start, picked up my bib, and did about 10 minutes of jogging, maybe around a mile. Went to the porta-potty and did some stretching, then some drills. I hadn’t worn my ForeRunner intentionally, since my plan was to run this one by feel. At about 7:50 I took a Gu, figuring that the sugars couldn’t hurt and I’d enjoy the mental boost as well, then lined up pretty near the front of the chute. And waited. The weather was wonderful, low 50s with drizzle. The anthem was sung around 7:55, and then - we waited.

And kept waiting.

It turns out that the police officers weren’t in place. So the route wasn’t closed off.

We didn’t start until after 8:30.

By that time even with a few little jogs I felt tight, tired, and my pre-race adrenaline had long since gone. Worse, I was beginning the downhill sugar slope. But those are just excuses. The horn went off and I headed out, crossing the mat just a couple of seconds after the gun.

Mile one started out nice and flat, then led into about a half mile of uphill. My goal was to go out fairly hard and I did, cresting the hill and doing the first mile in around 7:30 - not bad for the terrain. You know what? I need more hill work. By the top of the hill I was breathing at a 2/1 rate, that’s two steps for the inhale but only one for the exhale. Those of you playing along at home may remember that I did this hill too fast last year as well. Anyway, I never got my breathing back down to a 2/2. Not a good sign.

Mile 2 was mixed, with a couple of solid but shorter uphills. I didn’t get to the mile marker until 15:35. That’s right, an 8:00 mile. I know it sounds like I’m whining here, but I just did the 3M half marathon at that pace, for the whole race! Sheesh. My breathing was controlled but heavy, and I felt like crap.

Mile 3 rolls at first and then heads downhill for about half a mile, followed by a flat final quarter. I picked it up a little, but not much - my pace was around 7:45 here. I started to feel like I’d recovered somewhat by the end, but I was not a happy camper.

That feeling continued as I crossed the finish line, and intensified when I saw my final time. My goal had been low to mid 22s. I was going to be pretty happy with any 22:xx time. I didn’t make it. I didn’t even make 23:xx. My result was a lousy 24:05.4, for a 7:43 overall pace. Heck, that’s two seconds per mile slower than I did the five mile turkey trot last year, which was a) hillier and b) less than a week after a half marathon.

I should clarify those statements somewhat. I know a lot of people would be very happy with that kind of speed; heck, I was one of them just a few months ago. I just feel like I could have, and should have, done so much better than that - I’m not disappointed in my time, I’m disappointed in myself.

The good news? I won a $40 bike tuneup door prize. So that’s something, at least. I’m already looking for another race to do as a “redemption run” too. I feel energized and pissed off at the same time. This could be a good thing. And hey, I shaved 3:06 off my time from last year, and I did trim 53 seconds off my 5K PR.

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