Notes
We arrived at packet pickup at 7:20 am. Temperature was almost 60 F so the warmest Truman 5K I can remember. We picked up our packet and received a water bottle instead of a shirt. We had planned to run a couple miles to warm up rather than run the entire course this year since we didn't have time to do the whole course. We thought we knew a short cut back to the start so turned down a road to take it, but ended up being 3 miles so we had about a minute to rest before the start. I had hoped to get a drink but didn't have time. Also, didn't have time to take my shirt to the car so left in the ditch by the stop sign at the start.
I lined up in front but as usual about 20+ people spring ahead of me going out so fast like they are running the mile. I was trying to keep below a 6 minute pace for the first mile. I ended up passing over 10 people that were breathing way too hard for the first mile. My first mile split was 5:57. I passed a few more people at the start of the second mile. This is a hilly course and the worst hills are in the second mile so I slowed down up the hills a bit.
Ran the second mile in 6:08 which was decent considering the hills. By mile 2.5, I was feeling those hills I had just ran. There were some guys now close behind me which keeps me pushing myself. I kept pushing until the next to last turn and then these guys start to sprint so I kick up the pace even more, but they still pass me just before the end. Finished 3rd mile in 6:05. Last 0.1 was 5:20 pace. I beat my best time on this course by only1 second!
Overall placed 6th of 76 and 2nd of 11 in my age group of 35 - 44. There were 3 of us very close at the end. A guy that was 18:39, 18:40, and I was 18:41 and the 18:40 guy was in my age group. Hugh placed 25th and second in his age group 45 - 54. I was very happy with my time since I have not been training much for speed lately but seem to be running near my fastest time for shorter races. Also, had not raced a 5K since June where I was 4 seconds slower on a flat course. I talked to the guy that beat me for awhile at the end and then Hugh and I went out and ran some more.