Notes
The goal today is simple: under 20 min. It's a field of about 10-15 runners who will be under 20 so that gives me plenty of incentive and inspiration. The plan is to run between 6:20-25 first mile and not more than the same for the 2nd mile. From there I will see what lies ahead and how I feel. I'm feeling good, but my weight is up about 5 lbs from where I'd like to be. We'll see. Darren B will be going with me. Only his 2nd 5K ever, but he's run a marathon before, too. I predict a sub 24 for Darren.
Fast field including Nathan H. He finished at 15:04...this had to be short. I'll take it anyway. Ran my first mile in 6:35, passed a few people, very conflicting times at 2mile where I had myself at 13:11 and the guy was saying 12:54. Who knows. I just figured the way I felt I was looking at around 12:20. I was definitely going to push it the last mile, but I didn't have much energy the entire race. I kept my eye on a guy in yellow and figured he was "20". I got to the point where I was at 16:30 with 1/2 mile to go and started to push...I knew I had a shot when I could see the finish and I had a minute to go. I passed probably 10 people in the last mile.
I was 32nd overall. 6th in my 40-49 age group. If they went by 5's I was 3rd in the 40-44.
In a way I felt like I hit a HR in a small ball park, but it's done and in the books and I'm ready to move to the next phase in my training of improving on that and shooting for sub 19:30.
It felt great to cross that line and see the "19"! yes.