Notes
Temp 42 Wind 7 mph.
As much "backstory" to this one as there is race summary. Trained for a 15K this weekend. SLTC sucks and I'm an idiot. Two local options. One that I could care less to support due to past sloppy, lazy organization. Leaves this one. Great cause and Gary C. coming over. Event site on FB shows big anticipated turnout. Not familiar with a lot of them and not sure of my 5K fitness. Plugged in New Years Day 10K time (also a flat course) and projected 19:13-19:20 range for equivalent performance (6:10-6:15 average pace). Good enough. Show up, follow the leaders out, see where we are at after one mile, then see how many positions I can move up in the overall finish.
Awesome day to run. Just a bit of a wind, but will only be a factor first half and last quarter of mile three. Had scoped out my course tangents on warm up and take my spot on left side of front row of starting line. Lot of fast starters. After 400 meters, running in 8th or 9th. We make a loop around a city block and I move up to 5th. Garmin chirps to alert me at 0.50 and I'm running comfortable at a 6:10 pace. Should be able to handle this just fine. Race on.
One by one, ease on by next three runners. Only one runner in front of me now, and he is heavy-set older looking guy with a bald spot. WTH? Who is he?? Has some kind of military "endurance training" tee on. Holding pace, so maybe he knows what he's doing? Hit the "walker's gaggle" little shy of the first mile split. They are lined up several deep and blocking the whole road. Had closed to about 10 meters on leader, but then decide to take opposite side of street to dance around the humanity. Come out of the mess about 20 meters back. Catch a break as he takes a bad tangent at next turn just past first mile split. I am right back on him. Garmin alerts, I take a quick glance and see we are still at 6:10. No more look back up and he has pulled up to a jog and sucking enough oxygen out of the air for both of us. Nearly ran up his back before sliding over to pass him.
Leading now and will get a peek of who is chasing when we turn on Stephens shortly. Young kid still in striking distance and he has two others right there with him. Next look will be just shy of two mile split. Relax, stay quick, stay efficient. Make the left off Campanella onto paved trail and can see kid and two others are still within striking distance; however, I have made some space. Follow 6:10 first mile split with 6:12 second mile.
Headwind for 2/3rds of mile three. Just enough to feel it. Will adjust effort next half mile and hope wind keeps them from trying to move on me. Trail bends as we take our lap around the lake. Get my next look at about 2.5 miles. Kid faded. Matt B (30-something BQer from St. Mary I recognized from BOH HM last year) and ??? Riggs (top masters runner from the Bootheel since asshole in pickup ran over Wheeler). Bit of concern they could still run me down, then realize we only have about 0.60 to go. Too much space, too little time. Mine to lose. Continue in prevent defense to finish out remainder of third mile. Split = 6:19.
Time to kick and finish. Felt refreshed and got a good surge. Last 0.1 in 0:36 (5:45 pace). Lots of walkers to pull on heading to finish line. First overall with clock time of 19:17. Smack in the middle of the equivalent performance range and 78.9% (16:27) age graded. This one took some work. Lot of "strong" minutes, but not a whole lot of "easy" minutes. Course plots to 3.15. Garmin 3.10. Two accurate courses in a row...that's rare.
Great cause. State Trooper with cancer. Wife works at one of our agency's charter banks. Raised over 11K. Kick-ass day for CBEGM. Two OA wins with KEH's Mardi Gras 5K victory.