Notes
Well this is the 5K I was aiming for since I came off the PF issues. Came into it feeling good and following 1 easy day and an off day. Met the Pelham HS X-Country team once I was able to find a parking spot and got checked in. Missed running the warmup with them but still got a few miles in. My goal was to break 19:30 and told one of the top girls, Shay, I would pace her since she was shooting for that as well.
The start is down hill and the high school kids all went out like shots. I was trying to hold back from the start and still probably did the first quarter or so at 5:45 pace before coasting into the first major turn. Hit the first mile mark in about 6:10/6:15, Shae was still right with me. I felt ok, not great, but ok. She looked to be comfortable. The next mile had a few sharper turns, Shay pulled ahead a little and then would come back. The back half has more hills, but nothing too bad. Some of the other HS kids were starting to come back to us as well who went out too fast, but things were spread out at this point. At the 2nd mile mark, my pace average was like 6:23/4 and I was starting to feel like I might fade.
The 3rd mile I was feeling stressed but still running hard. Shae was starting to fade as were many others and passing a few of the kids helped keep me motivated. I hate running around cones and this course had one at the 2.5 mile mark. I saw my son running up as I was running down which helped motivate me as well.
I stopped checking the watch after the 2 mile mark, so not sure what my pace was here. I round the corner after the cones and I see the lead girl Shannon (#1 on the HS Girl team). She was way ahead of me at the half. So I start thinking, hey, I can catch her. I get close and know I need to get around her to avoid the picture of her winning with me getting chick'd in the background. I get by her just before the last turn for home.
It is a downhill finish from here, I was just focused on finishing hard and not letting anyone pass me. With less than a quarter mile to go I glance at the watch and wonder if sub 19:15 is possible, I am really breathing hard at this point (and for most of the last mile). As I approach the finish, I see 18's still on the board, but don't think I can make it for it rolls over but seeing it helps me push on through the finish. Official time was 19:04, 14th overall and 1st in my age group. Nine of the people in front of me were all on the local High School teams. My son dusted me and also PR'd, he never broke 19 before and ran a blistering 18:03. The torch has officially been passed. Shay ended up finishing 2nd overall but just needs to learn to run more on the edge I think. Props to Coach-N too who beat me by running a 18:52.
Place Div/Tot Div Name City St Ag S No. Net Time Pace Gun Time
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5 2/25 M1519 Chris Kaberle Pelham NH 17 M 193 18:03.1 5:49 18:03.1
14 1/24 M4049 Robert Kaberle Sanford ME 44 M 91 19:04.0 6:09 19:05.2