"Run the first 2/3 of your race with your head, run the last third with your heart"
-Jack Daniels
The many days and weeks of miles, drills, and workouts have slowly changed my body so I can handle a solid pace for a long time. I knew I was in great shape--my top end speed was there, my aerobic base was there, and now (finally) my specific endurance for the 5-10K was there and it all came together today. These are the types of days that make it all worth it!
Warming up it was obvious that the race would be a Pacers New Balance and Georgetown Running Company grudge match. There were a lot of fast guys out there and the weather was great with little wind. I started with the GRC group and when we got to the first mile marker at 5:00 I knew it was completely stupid to run that pace so I just let the pack go and I fell back because I was using my brain! I ran a solid pace based on effort with two other guys after that. Once we got passed the 5K I slowly started running faster...and faster...and by mile 4 I was on the verge of catching that pack that blew up and went out too fast. In mile 5, I caught all three of those GRC guys who by the way, have some very fast PRs. It was obvious they went out too fast and I made the right decision to wait until mile 4 to make my move. I gave it everything I had at that point...surge after surge to break the GRC boys and it worked! I ended up coming through in 32:23!! that's nuts considering my PR was 33:01 from 2012.
Start slow, finish with everything you've got, focus on racing, and your time will take care of itself. Lessons from my coach that I actually followed today. It feels so much better to pass people in the last mile than to have them pass you.
I had to let this sink in for a minute after the race...that's two 16:11 5Ks back to back. I would have never imagined that I would have been capable of that back in high school! Aerobic development and miles (with a lot of patience) make winners.
hmm with the perfect weather and flat course I wonder what I could run for a 5K? I think I'm going to hit up the pool later...legs are tired.
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