Notes
First race since November and first post injury race. Did great. Large race and so it took quite a while to cross the starting line, and then I was in a pack of people. A little challenging to judge my pace in the early going; at first I felt like I was going a little fast, then too slow. But I got out of the pack and at the 1 mile marker my time was somewhere around 9:30 which was right where I wanted it. From there I focused on just trying to keep a steady, even pace... and I did! I hit right around my goal time, finishing at 47:38 by my watch (no chip timing). The race was well marked with timers at every mile and my pacing was very close to even the whole way, one of my best races ever in terms of pacing. A little clogged at the finish line and not much room for trying to kick it in and pass people, but whatever.
My leg felt great, no cramping at all. This was my first race in the Brooks Ghosts and they felt terrific in the race, like I didn't even notice I was wearing them. I felt a little winded and was sucking air a little more than I liked but I was able to keep it together.
Dressed in a short sleeve top, my thin purple Asics half zip, and my Adidas track pants, plus my thin gloves. Felt right overall except that I could have done without the gloves.
Anyway, this was awesome for so many reasons. It was great not to merely get back to where I had been pre-injury (though that was a goal) but actually to exceed it. It was great to run a really strong, evenly paced race. It was great to PR. It was great to run a 5 miler at what my McMillan prediction time is, suggesting I am beginning to get into shape for races longer than 5k. It was great to get some positive feedback as I train for the Broad Street Run.
Woot!