Like any other runner I sized up the field based on what they were wearing...because that's always spot on, right? Actually that's a pretty dumb thing to do and more than likely you're either going to 1) let self doubt ruin your race by letting potentially slower runners dictate your pace or 2) your overconfidence will leave you feeling like an idiot about the time some floppy haired 30 year old with glasses and old school Air Jordan's hawks you down at mile 2.
I felt pretty good about things going in but I wasn't here to win and wasn't even concerned about the age group thing. I was really hoping to run under 18 today - which in hindsight was pretty stupid. Not for me to want to run sub 18 but for me to put that in print. Oh but rest assured there will be no more bold assertions about setting future PR's because this dumb@ss has learned his lesson. For those of you astute as reading between the lines I'm guessing you know where this is going.
The start of this race feels a lot like field day in elementary school with several grade school kids and some grown adults tearing off like it's a 100 meter dash. I clocked a 5:36 for the first mile which I was alright with. I felt pretty good but the humidity was not doing me any favors. I was third overall and my strategy was to maintain splits that were more even that I have been racing. I had recently run in a 10K with the guy leading at mile 1 and was able to catch him on the back half so I was hoping if I could keep him close enough I could do the same in this shorter race. Robert Murray was running second and was by far the class of the field but knowing he was coming off an injury I wasn't sure how hard or how long he was going to push it.
Robert passed the lead runner and I followed suit shortly thereafter. After running the second mile in 6:06 I knew a sub 18 was probably out of the question considering I needed to average 5:45 or there abouts. But hey, I was in position to win an overall award and those are hard to come by - at least for me. At this point I just wanted to finish strong and at a pace faster than mile 2. At the turn I caught Robert and decided to set the pace for the last mile. I'm actually not comfortable in the lead which probably has a lot to do with not ever being there. Shocker huh? But anyway, I clocked a 5:57 for the last mile and finished in 18:38. I was the overall winner (see above about fast kids running in Newton) but really not happy with my time.
I know, I know. There's no shame in an old dude running 18:38 and I'm blessed to be able to run the way I do. I'm blessed to have a good heart, strong lungs, and nice shoes - none of which I take for granted. But seriously, I ran 4 seconds faster last year and wasn't nearly as fit. I ran 40 seconds faster a month ago in another relatively flat and humid 5K and I haven't taken any time off? Maybe the course measured long (I clocked it at 3.19). Or maybe the humidity was higher today? No I've got it........wait for it......maybe........just maybe.........maybe I just sucked it up today :)
I ran a safe race, a pretty good race, yes it was humid and so what if I measured it a few feet long. Those are garbage excuses. Simply put I just lacked the fire of a PR. I have a love/hate relationship with 5K's. Mainly because they hurt - especially if you're going to run a PR. Maybe a world class athlete has to operate like a tactician to run the perfect race and set a PR but I'm not world class. I just have to run like hell without being completely stupid. Pretty simple right? I have to stop thinking, stop looking at my watch, stop worrying about the field and if or how long they can hold their pace and just run. Run free, run reckless, and run as if this is my last chance. Today I didn't do that. Sure I'm happy with winning but I would be lying if I said this didn't sting a little bit.
But the good news is that I'll tuck this little sting away and carry it with me in two weeks when I set off for 200 miles of running with 11 other guys packed in two vans for 24 hours of Blue Ridge Relay fun! That should provide for some good pictures, good laughs, and something else for me to blog about besides my stupid obsession with the clock. I mean really, running is all about living a healthy lifestyle, right? Whatever.
No comments:
Post a Comment