Notes
Temp 75 Wind 18 mph. Gusts 25 mph.
Had signed up for this one before I got sick. Showed up with no expectations or plan. Course a tad long. Depending on which you believe (Garmin or USAFT) 160-210 meters long. I split the distance and called it 3.20 miles. Wind gusts to 25 mph would primarily be in our face for short distance at start and then for the last 1.5 miles. Primarily at out backs most of first half of race.
Small field of 34. Three races this weekend in area; not enough runners to support all three with significant turnout.
Not much racing. Went out as last of group of six. Three kids, two adults. Knew one adult would slow; the other had a real smooth and pretty stride and I did not know him. Passed the first and youngest kid. "Pretty Stride" lasted all of 400 meters before things turned ugly. Around him and then passed the last adult before 800 meters.
Out little too fast, but strong tail wind behind me and wanting to keep leader in striking distance. Passed the second kid just past 1st mile split. We hit it at 6:30. Leader had some distance on me. Hoped he would tire more than me when we hit the head-wind. He didn't. Never could close much without blowing myself up.
Official time 21:20. Time translates to a 20:43 5K which is what I ran on Sunday. Finished 2nd overall to 11 year old who beat me by 32 seconds. (He beat me by over a minute last August...if anything, I can say with confidence that my training program is superior to an 11-year old's.) Finished 1st in AG. Was the only 45-49 year old, but when you're second overall no one can bust your balls about it.
Done with 5Ks until July. Summer race series starts in two weeks with 2-mile downhill run. Going to try a long run tomorrow, then take a few days off to hopefully finally shake cough and rest minor "dings". Hope to be making progress again by 7-miler end of May. I'll be continuing to work on base miles with a weekly Tempo Run until next 5K. Like others, I'm thinking program will improve my 5K time.