Notes
...everybody do the mess around...
Wall clock time, no watch, guess on distance.
Race preview:
Weather: Will be warm and humid. Not as warm as Night of Miles, but every bit as humid. So, if I can bust a 5:07 mile in that (albeit on a very nice track), I can certainly run a strong 5K, as strong as I’ve run.
Course: Sweet downhill first mile (turned in a surprise 5:38 on it last year during the 8 mile race), followed by flat half, then the two nasty hills, first sharp and short at 1.5, with big down on the other side, then bigger hill from 1.7 to 2. Key to first is easy up, and mind the tangents, then bust down the other side, give yourself a little mo’ for the way back up the second. Second is just steady grind, with the knowledge that you’re nice and flat on Wellsville after that. 2 to 3 is all Wellsville, with a slight up at the end – here’s where we put it into gear – steady up to the house with the Ireland flag, then bust it after that. Downhill finish down Main Street. Really want to start the windup at Ireland house, and be in full kick at the top of Main. So, overall, it’s not a bad course – don’t let the hills sap you.
Competition: Never know with this one. Some years 20 mins has won it. Last year, Joe Lemay dropped by and won with 17:5x (though that was probably just a jog/workout for him). In the past it’s taken 15. Most of the big boys run the 8miler, which usually makes the 5k weaker – you really don’t know who is in your race until the split before the first hill at 1.5 though, which is kind of weird.
Condition: Slightly concerned about my right leg. Since just before the Mile race, had some glute issues, that have gotten slightly better, but now there’s some weird pains that pulse in hammy and what seems like around the inner right quad near the knee. It makes no sense to me, sort of feels like a dead leg. No idea what’s going on there, though it seems to be getting slightly better each day. Will killing a 5K make this a lot worse? Maybe. Maybe even probably. But I want to race this badly.
Training: I’m in a good spot right now. 7 months of 200 miles under me. Solid workouts. Everything should be good from this perspective. Perfect course, perfect weather, and perfect health (none of which I’ll have tomorrow) I’d put me in 17:25ish shape. I want to think that anyway.
Anyway, looking forward to it. Let’s do this…