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Hey all:<br><br>
I'm a recent CR emigre so a little intro may be in order. I started running in Oct 05. I had run in HS, but not seriously since. When my daughter was born it was a serious kick in the keester to get out and lose the 50+ that had built up over the years and be able to crawl around the family room without getting winded.<br><br>
Ordinarily I wouldn't post a 5k report, but this one was special. Brief history, I ran 23 in the 5K in 05, broke 20 in spring 06, and ran 18:15 last November. One of my goals for 07 was to break into the 17s, but when I ran my first 5k this year in April, I got a 17:25, so I decided to ammend that goal to be sub 17.<br><br>
I devised a 5K specific training plan based on my good friends Mr Pfitzinger and 'teh internets'. Basically solid base running around 50 miles/week, 1x5mile tempo runs around or below 6mm, and then all sorts of crazy track workouts with 4x1m and 8x0.5mile being the most common. I tried to run 2 hard workouts and a long run each week.<br><br>
These led me to 2 successive low 17s, but no goal time.<br><br>
Now to our story: July 4th here started rainy, and I wasn't sure I was going to run since there are enough 5ks here that you don't really need to pick just one. Plus my hammys were pretty sore from some recent hard runs.<br><br>
Regardless I decided I'd get in the car and if I changed my mind I could go do a long run on the drives. I almost turned around right before I went over the bridge to NJ, since it was pouring at that point, but once I was over I knew I would run, since there's a toll on the bridge and I'm cheap like that.<br><br>
Warmup was an easy 3.5 or so around Haddonheights and Haddonfield, 2 very cute towns. I had checked last years results online and they get a good crowd for this race so it was pretty easy picking out the fast looking peeps.<br><br>
I talked it up with a few guys on the start line who were looking for similar time goals. One was a 30-something looking for 17 (oh, I'll keep an eye on you) and one a 20-something 16:30. I figured if I could keep him within 2 blocks I'd have my goal. Plus there was a college kid who just went out for track this year and ran 16:11. Yeah kid, break a leg.<br><br>
Here's a lousy start shot, I'm on the left in the blue shirt. I don't know how I've got my hand in my pocket. I don't even have pockets.<br><br><img alt="" src="http://www.lin-mark.com/photohh07/P1010390_small1.JPG" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
The start was clean and fast. I remember thinking at one point that we were moving pretty good and M1 should be up soon. M1 went by in 5:10. This is pretty darn fast for me. I do 800 repeats at that pace, so it's not unfamiliar, but it wasn't really the plan. At this point I was mybe 20 seconds off the leaders and a little off the back of the second pack.<br><br>
I knew that I had enough time in the bank that if I could just hold on to a respectable pace I would be able to get my goal time, so I pulled up into the chase pack and latched onto the 16:30 guy. Then, at M1.5 or so, he quit! Dude, no fair! I was chasing you!<br><br>
M2 went by at 5:25 pace and I was feeling very confident. I considered trying to move up a little but since my primary goal for this race was time I decided to just stick a steady pace and bring it in.<br><br>
Through M3 I was back and forth with some college kid who was running it like it was an XC race and kept boxing me out. Dude, you're not in my AG. I don't care <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
The finish came up and you could see the line from maybe a quarter mile out so it gave room for a nice kick. I saw the other 30x guy coming up and put the pedal down a little bit. I beat him in the stretch, and college XC guy passed me just before the chute.<br><br>
I was like - 'Dude - you're blocking my view of the clock!' Plus he stopped in the chute so I had to give him a good shove so I could get over to the oranges before the crowds started showing up.<br><br>
Here's college kid blocking my glory shot.<br><br><img alt="" src="http://www.lin-mark.com/photohh07/P1010396_small.JPG" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Finish in 16:39, 8th overall first >30. Goal met. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
Best part: the AG award was a little beer bug with the race name and a little runner on it. Big plus for beer glass. Better yet, the cups were from last year and someone had taken a Sharpie and just colored over the 2006. Best prize EVAH!
I'm a recent CR emigre so a little intro may be in order. I started running in Oct 05. I had run in HS, but not seriously since. When my daughter was born it was a serious kick in the keester to get out and lose the 50+ that had built up over the years and be able to crawl around the family room without getting winded.<br><br>
Ordinarily I wouldn't post a 5k report, but this one was special. Brief history, I ran 23 in the 5K in 05, broke 20 in spring 06, and ran 18:15 last November. One of my goals for 07 was to break into the 17s, but when I ran my first 5k this year in April, I got a 17:25, so I decided to ammend that goal to be sub 17.<br><br>
I devised a 5K specific training plan based on my good friends Mr Pfitzinger and 'teh internets'. Basically solid base running around 50 miles/week, 1x5mile tempo runs around or below 6mm, and then all sorts of crazy track workouts with 4x1m and 8x0.5mile being the most common. I tried to run 2 hard workouts and a long run each week.<br><br>
These led me to 2 successive low 17s, but no goal time.<br><br>
Now to our story: July 4th here started rainy, and I wasn't sure I was going to run since there are enough 5ks here that you don't really need to pick just one. Plus my hammys were pretty sore from some recent hard runs.<br><br>
Regardless I decided I'd get in the car and if I changed my mind I could go do a long run on the drives. I almost turned around right before I went over the bridge to NJ, since it was pouring at that point, but once I was over I knew I would run, since there's a toll on the bridge and I'm cheap like that.<br><br>
Warmup was an easy 3.5 or so around Haddonheights and Haddonfield, 2 very cute towns. I had checked last years results online and they get a good crowd for this race so it was pretty easy picking out the fast looking peeps.<br><br>
I talked it up with a few guys on the start line who were looking for similar time goals. One was a 30-something looking for 17 (oh, I'll keep an eye on you) and one a 20-something 16:30. I figured if I could keep him within 2 blocks I'd have my goal. Plus there was a college kid who just went out for track this year and ran 16:11. Yeah kid, break a leg.<br><br>
Here's a lousy start shot, I'm on the left in the blue shirt. I don't know how I've got my hand in my pocket. I don't even have pockets.<br><br><img alt="" src="http://www.lin-mark.com/photohh07/P1010390_small1.JPG" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
The start was clean and fast. I remember thinking at one point that we were moving pretty good and M1 should be up soon. M1 went by in 5:10. This is pretty darn fast for me. I do 800 repeats at that pace, so it's not unfamiliar, but it wasn't really the plan. At this point I was mybe 20 seconds off the leaders and a little off the back of the second pack.<br><br>
I knew that I had enough time in the bank that if I could just hold on to a respectable pace I would be able to get my goal time, so I pulled up into the chase pack and latched onto the 16:30 guy. Then, at M1.5 or so, he quit! Dude, no fair! I was chasing you!<br><br>
M2 went by at 5:25 pace and I was feeling very confident. I considered trying to move up a little but since my primary goal for this race was time I decided to just stick a steady pace and bring it in.<br><br>
Through M3 I was back and forth with some college kid who was running it like it was an XC race and kept boxing me out. Dude, you're not in my AG. I don't care <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
The finish came up and you could see the line from maybe a quarter mile out so it gave room for a nice kick. I saw the other 30x guy coming up and put the pedal down a little bit. I beat him in the stretch, and college XC guy passed me just before the chute.<br><br>
I was like - 'Dude - you're blocking my view of the clock!' Plus he stopped in the chute so I had to give him a good shove so I could get over to the oranges before the crowds started showing up.<br><br>
Here's college kid blocking my glory shot.<br><br><img alt="" src="http://www.lin-mark.com/photohh07/P1010396_small.JPG" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Finish in 16:39, 8th overall first >30. Goal met. <img alt="smile.gif" src="http://files.kickrunners.com/smilies/smile.gif"><br><br>
Best part: the AG award was a little beer bug with the race name and a little runner on it. Big plus for beer glass. Better yet, the cups were from last year and someone had taken a Sharpie and just colored over the 2006. Best prize EVAH!