Notes
Finally, I have good news: I ran the half marathon I was training for last weekend, and on the back of that training and a bit more rest, I finally got what I was looking for! At the 'Salmon Run' 5k tonight I ran 18:47. It had been a hot, humid day, but breezes cooled things off considerably. This was a local race in a small, lakeside town, and a lot of the high school track/XC kids were out. Lots of good natured horseplay at the starting line before the whistle. I saw one kid who had the back of his singlet taped up to make it smaller.. his friends were ribbing him about going under 19. More on that later. I'd decided to go sockless in these NB 730s I'd got and done one run in - like a cheap version of the minimus - but they're light and they felt good. We took off at the whistle and I just kind of hung back behind these kids, feeling like I could go faster, but wanting to conserve slightly. I've been trying to internalize pace, so I didn't look at my watch much and was surprised when a volunteer called out 5:30 for my first mile. Worrisome. So I tried to lay off a bit and hang with a new, slightly slower pace. At this point we'd all kind of settled in and I noticed the kid with the taped singlet, maybe 50 yards ahead, was slowing every so slightly. Trying to stay relaxed, I pushed just a bit and started to reel him in. A volunteer called mile two in 6:25, but I was maybe 10 feet off the kid's shoulder and with enough steam left to do a proper quick pass and start a long windup. With nobody in striking distance to chase I turned more to internal struggles and tried to keep from losing control of my breathing. It went quickly enough, though, and I came through in about 6:15. When I heard low 18s for 3 miles I knew I could make it. I was really starting to wind it up as much as I could. I didn't want to be stuck, once again, with the feeling that I could've left more out there. It was really uncomfortable, no lie, and I still haven't learned crap about running an even race, but I came through in 11th place, went under 19 and smashed my PR by 18 seconds. The kid who I'd chased through the middle of the race turned out to be in 14 and under, and he won an age group award and *did* make it under 19 as well. Now I need a new goal. Under 18 seems an awfully long way away, but for now it's just gonna be a good summer!