Little strategy and even less specific training went into this, but I wanted to see if sub 5:00 was doable, having not raced anything shorter than a 5K since high school.

There would be 4 heats -  a fun run, "general population" open to all comers, "elite" women, and finally "elite" men.  I balked at that term and almost went into the general heat, but an acquaintance I frequently chat with at races told me that in this case, elite simply meant "doesn't want to get stuck in traffic".

Ok then, the start and finish were just around a corner from each other, so it was easy to watch the other heats at both points.

The women that I had picked to go 1-2 actually went 2-3, edged out by an unfamiliar girl's 4:58.

A couple more minutes of jogging, a few accelerations, and it was time.  I was fairly relaxed, the course was pancake flat, the weather was good, and I had already scoped out the finish area.  GO.

Video shortly after the start

Up to speed after dodging a few guys, as I had not started on the line.  Get used to the breathing, turn over fast, this is not a 5K.  400 meters.  In a crowd, guys falling behind, other guys pulling ahead, organized chaos.  Corner, don't fuck up the tangent, 800 meters, not paying attention and nearing 5K pace, this is not a 5K go faster!  Flats making a slapping sound unlike heavier shoes, 1200, visual on the last corner with traffic sawhorses and spectators lining the street, get up there - the finish line is just around that bend, blur, mats, clock, 4:52.

I'm happy on one hand, having beaten my goal, but also left knowing that I did a few things wrong and can probably improve by a non-trivial amount.

Instead of the usual AG awards, long sleeved Brooks tech jackets were given out to the 75 runners with the best AG% scoring across all 3 heats, and my mile-rookie effort was good for 24th in that contest.

Who in the hell has time to make mistakes in a 1 mile race, and still finish in under 5 minutes?  I guess that would be you.  Damn you're fast.  Great job!

Good stuff, Jay!  Interesting that they handed out the jackets based on AG grade instead of time.  I would not even come close to the top 75.

Congrats!  You ran a great time and met your goal.  Like everyone else, I have no doubt that there's quite a few seconds you can probably cut from your time with a little more race-specific training and a little more practice at the distance.  But regardless of mistakes you made or whatever else-- 4:52 is a smoking fast time!

That Brooks tech jacket is super sweet looking, too.  Very cool to get an award that is useful!

Holy crap!!! (That is meant as a compliment)

Great job!  You must be a man that loves the pain because you certainly seem to kill these shorter distance races.  I thought your getting used to the breathing comment was pretty astute.  Most races, when you really start gasping, it's time to back off.  I imagine that isn't the case in the mile.

Now I've got a time to shoot for if I ever get to race one   Oh, nice bling too!

Thanks, guys

jjs - there were gift certs to the LRS for the top 5 men and women.... next year maybe.

Oski - I think there were mainly two mistakes:  1) slowing down slightly after 800, and 2) expecting to accelerate a lot at the end.  The whole last 400m should be the "kick", nothing like 5K and up where exhausted runners can often be smoked at the very end.

Rick - Good call about just having a feeling that you can do better;  no doubt that you will.   I'm going after 4:45 next year, and will do mile stuff more than one day in training, haha.  You are likely right about not being near peak performance for this distance, but it becomes a balancing act with marathon training.

SIAR and B+ - Strangely the race did not feel painful, and there was almost none of the distance-running fatigue to overcome.  It was a lot easier, mentally, to think "whatever discomfort might arise, it's going to be over soon so just ignore it."

Man..I can't even imagine running that fast!  Congrats, you Speed Demon!