Notes
I saw Benjamin Ndaya in line for the restroom before the race and instantly knew I was racing for second.
Went out with the lead pack in ~4th position. We let Benjamin get away at about 1 mile when he cranked up the speed. The next 3 of us went throught the 1 mile point ~10 sec back at 5:36. Then we hit the hills in the middle of the course (I had slipped into 3rd position by the time we got to the hills). On the first uphill the guy in 2nd position started struggling so I surged up the hill and opened up my stride on the down-hill and did the same on the next two hills. My the time I got to the 2 mile mark (11:10) I couldn't hear anyone behind me anymore. I held the ~5:35 pace for the next 1/2 mile or so, but never saw Benjamin and never heard anyone coming up behind me so eased up and crused in for second place and the $50.00 cash prize.
Weather was beautiful and though I felt exhausted at the race start after being out late the night before I was feeling strong by the time we came off the hills so I probably should have powered through the last mile for a PR, but I'll take my 2nd fastest 5k.