Finley River 5K "Race Report"

  A good nights sleep, bowl of cereal, out the door with a plan to run a "Threshold Pace" run (tempo). Where that would be is the question! I did manage to find a comfortably hard pace....where I could of pushed a bit but opted to hold right there and not race.
   Beautiful morning with overcast skies and a fresh rain, a real large turnout!! Since this was the only race in the area most of the elites were there, I lined up on the outside mid-pack, had a good sweat going from my 1 mile warm-up...and off! Lots of slower runners in front started too fast...a guy dropped his Ipod in front of me and I had to leap around him as he stopped suddenly....I looked at charmin' Garmin and noticed it said 7:18...whoops! I slowed down knowing if I didn't I'd surely die! Nice and smooth, rhythmic breathing, easy course...some folks were racing which was okay...I let them go....one mile 8:07.
  Mile two was very interesting and enjoyable! I found this threshold, and perhaps it was a little too easy, why?An 8:22 second mile? No, as I was maintaining I heard a light breathing pattern coming on my right shoulder....I'm not going to race! It was a tall young lady running barefoot! I said "you sure are light on your feet!" She liked that and we began a brief conversation, I shouldn't of been able to chat! So maybe I was sandbagging? She said this was the first race she'd run barefoot, she eventually pulled away as I kept a steady pace, made the turn and began to catch quite a few people who were toasting, one guy wanted to race....he didn't like me passing him so he began to push...I didn't I just maintained, coming to a turn I drew such a tight line I guess I demoralized him as I passed him he fell off for good. I came upon two "rabbits", people who walk then run, I just kept the pace, one eventually finished ahead of me by a few yards as they sprinted in...I resisted....the other got beat by the tortoise...8:28 third...not bad, but not what I would of liked, the last .12 (Garmin D) was :58. 25:55 unofficial. I saw that I was way down in the age group....I knew this would not be a good time for me but it was a great training effort! I am pleased. Heel feels great!
  I did stay around for the door prize drawings, I won the first one!!! $15 bucks for Bob Evans restaurant!
  So I broke even, got a cool shirt, saw some friends, and had a quality work-out. I was proud of myself that I could show self-control and maintain a fairly even pace....I think I could of pushed a little more but don't we always. So, next up, September 11th. Another pace race...not the goal race. Hope you have a great week-end! Go Bubba Watson in the PGA! Peace!

Stupid Steep-PW

Well, being the writer I am, I had to name the course I ran this morning. I call it "Stupid Steep", and boy howdy were there steeps!! Yet hills are the great equalizer and we all had to deal. This is not a PR course. As a matter of fact I'd never run a HM slower than 1:55 until today! So today marked my personal worse HM.

I picked up the young man I've been encouraging to run, Jason, and we made it to the race location to find mass confusion! Several conflicting instructions as to what line we needed to be in....and that was an indicator that the facilitating of the event was novice to say the least. The race actually started a half hour late and that surely frustrated some folks. Not only that, this is funny, finally ready to start, right, the race director yells go! People start running, the guy working the finish blows the horn and calls everyone back! False start!! You should of seen the mayhem! People resetting watches, getting back in place....oh well, maybe the Director learned something?

Seeing as I was out only 20 days from the Bass Pro Marathon I decided to take it easy and go as I felt. Becky, a friend and the fastest masters female within 500 miles, told me I was in for some hills.

I won't bore you with the mile by mile details, but the first mile was basically uphill and I notched a 10:42. I knew I was not up for a good time. I got into a rhythm and held it all the way.

I flew the downs when I could...some were so steep it was impossible to let go. I had to walk some ups, 24% grades!

Jason took off! He got second place in his division! I'm proud of him. He could be a great runner! He beat the old man today by 6 or 7 minutes! Around four miles he said to me "I'm going to take this hill!" That's the last I saw of him until the finish.

One thing I like about races? Even when they are discombobulated! The people! I met and reconnected with some great folks today! Runners are the best! That's one reason I blog, you all! You're the best!! Met Gary, big time marathoner, has run Boston several times. Libby, a beautiful young lady that is a fantastic runner! She knocked off a 1:52 on this course! Plus, get this, she's my neighbor!!!! Lives 2 or 3 miles north.

Jessica, another young lady who achieved her goal of 2:30, way to go Jessica! Janet, a school teacher, running the 5K. She's lost 50 lbs!!! She's hooked on running! Becky, Ted, and many others. One other thing....the refreshments, slim pickin's, were in the Y's gym. I saw a Basketball and a goal! I nailed three out of four jumpers! I figured I could take anyone there one on one!:)

So I'm back. I needed this run-Totals 13.1 miles/ 2:10:36/9:57's-hope all's well with you Peace!!