Run for Fun!

So, I got out of the hills and found some "flat" land! I have been needing some speed work so I thought a 5K race would be a good idea.
The Relay for Life 5K is a good cause and a good location...flat. Kind of....
A 15 minute warm-up with some pick-ups, I realized I had not run this pace for a while! My plan was to do a tempo run at 10K pace.
Horn went off and so did the field of about a hundred. Up an incline I held back. Those that started too fast faded quickly and in the first mile I passed many people.
Right at one mile mark..8:01.. Gerald Glass (RidgeRunner hall of Famer) passed me, I passed Bob Dewar, another HOFer, I was drawing good lines and cutting sharp turns, enabling me to pass some more people. Guy with his number on his back...young man overdressed.
Up a steep hill, I was thinking.."piece of cake" I run hills everyday!! No two mile marker?
Got to a flat and I held steady, I could of gone up a notch but I was wanting a tempo run.
Bob Dewar passed me back, we both went by a young runner, he was gutting it out!
I did decide no one was going to pass me in the last stretch...23:39.97 at three miles so put in two miles at 7:50's.
Finished with my head up and a lot left in the bank, I ran another 10 minutes, visited with some friends, Bob Dewar said I pushed him, I told him I was glad to help. Now I have to beat him!!
So, a total of 5.2 miles today. I will still keep mileage around 20 a week for a while. I hope to run another 5K June 20th. Congrats to all who ran yesterday. Carlee and Bill tore it up!! Way to go!

Just saw results posted on OMRR website. Got third in age group!

Race Report-no dice!

Well I did not break four hours. I am not totally bummed out, though. I still get to pursue the goal of breaking four hours and I intend to break this barrier.This was a rather unique Marathon. We started in fine weather on a nice crushed gravel trail. From the start of the marathon we had no mile markers. I was able to use those on posts along the trail for reference. At approx 3.2 miles I was at 30:37. Here I was running with a nice fellow named Ted and I said I was going too slow so I kicked it up a notch. I had decided to go for the four hours! Still unable to raise the bar, a 9:43? Mile 5-a 8:47. I ate my fig newtons and half power bar. Plus I had taken fluids. The first water station was a forbearer of things to come. No one handing cups...we suffered a real lack of volunteers. The trail began to get rougher. Larger stones, cattle guards, I actually turned my ankle twice...no harm.

I felt good! Mile 6- 9:13, mile 7-8:40, mile 8-8:44, mile 9-8:16, mile 10-9:12, (1:33.16) I'm thinking I can do it!

Missed mile marker-so mile 11 and 12-19:23- Problems I encountered? No volunteers at water stations. We had to stop and pour our own drinks, no problem, trail was taking toll on me.

Mile 13-9:16-(This was actually 13.2 due to the way we started.) 2:01.55. I'm still within a shot of four hours!

It was here that Ted passed me. I was in a bad patch. Mile 14-10:23, Mile 15-9:48,

mile16-9:36, I was losing it, and I was thirsty! No water station!!

Two guys besides Ted passed me during this phase...both ultra runners. The first guy I lamented to him how thirsty I was...he offered me a drink from his belt, I said no, he insisted, I drank! The next one was Rob! Rob you looked good! Rob said he was in a recovery phase, I passed back by him and didn't see him again.

Mile 17-10:36, Mile 18- water!! I drank, and I drank, and I drank some more-12:01. Here I knew 4 hours was lost. Big dog on trail, and I mean big! He didn't bite, but man was he slobbering!

Mile 19-10:46, I am really trying to get composed. I want the best time I can get.

Mile 20 no marker-but Sandy was there with my e-gel. I stopped and drank water. Two elites in the ultra had caught me, but we drank together. When I saw my Sweetheart coming towards me as I was running up to that stop I just about started balling! I was so disappointed that I wasn't going to break four hours. She kept telling me that doesn't matter that I was near the front? "There aren't that many people in front of you you are doing great."

Saw mile marker, it was mile 21-23:03 for two miles....not good! I was feeling good but hurting a little. I decided on a strategy: 70 right foot strikes running, twenty walking fast, repeated all the way in! Mile 22-11:21, Miles 23,24,25,26, no markers at all...time 39:34! That little system worked good!

Here's what happened on those last four miles. We came off the trail, thank goodness! It had beat me up good! We were now on asphalt, YAY!!! To my amazement I saw three white shirts in front of me, very catchable! By the way, no water at all from 20.5 on in, I began to catch these guys, one by one, also, I was passed by a super strong looking guy, one of the ultra runners, we shared words of encouragement. He won first in his age group.

The last guy I passed was Ted! I got him back! I was encouraged. My little system was working. Up a hill, turned North, back on trail, asphalt. Where in the tar nation is the finish. My calves are toast! Finally! Down a little hill, back up and through the finish line. No clock.

I hear this... " Mark Zimmerman, number 53, age 53," a pause, then a lady yells out, "first in age division!" Huh? No way! Sure enough! I've got the plaque to prove it!

Made a lot of friends, Tammy from New Mexico, Dave from Denver, Ted, who got second in age division (mine).

I could be bummed but I'm not. I finished with a 4:19.08. Unofficial. I will live to race another day. I realized some truths as I ran. I will begin to employ them in training and racing. What are they? Must log a few more miles. Long runs need to simulate marathon conditions. Sorry. Train slow-run slow. The body must be trained to run the pace you want to run. I will do more pace runs with deeper distances.

Thanks for all your support and thoughts. I thought about you guys as I was running. So no dice with the four hours, but a first place? Which is better? Peace!