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I normally wouldn't write such a long report for a 5K, but this race holds a special significance for me, as last year's was my first race since I started running in August 2006. It also helps that it's a reasonably well organized race on a gorgeous and challenging course on the extreme east side of Tucson on the borders of Saguaro National Park, and that there's a free breakfast of grilled scrambled eggs, refried beans, tortillas, donuts....but I'm getting ahead of myself.<br><br>
Two weeks out from my first HM in Philadelphia, this 5K was well timed, and marked the last tough workout before my taper. After setting PR's in the 8K and 10 miler I ran for my last two races, I was hoping to do the same here. My previous best in the 5K was 22:40, run on a much easier course in June. I'm in much better shape now, so I thought I had a shot at breaking 21:45. I also had a secret goal. The 5K is the undercard for this event: there's a HM run at the same time, which tends to attract the better runners. Looking at past year's results, I thought I had a shot at a top-10 overall, and a show in my AG.<br><br>
I arrived an hour before the start, met my friend Mandy, chatted a bit, and had a chance to warm up. The Sun was out, and the temp 60* -- just about perfect. The half-marathon started at 7:30, and we lined up just after their start. Given my expectations for a high finish, I started in the second row. At 7:35, we were off.<br><br>
I was out of the starting mess quickly, and was 7th in a loose lead pack. Having run this race last year, I knew the out-and-back course was essentially straight uphill to the turnaround, and I hoped to run just sub-7 on the way out, and bang home. Within a few minutes, we were catching the back of the HM pack, making for more weaving than I would have liked. First mile split: <b>7:00</b>. OK, close to goal.<br><br>
The early leader looked like a HS kid who wasn't adequately trained. I lost him in the crowd, but he was behind me at the turn-around. I'm 6th at this point. According to my Garmin, the net elevation gain was 150ft from the start.<br><br>
Mile 2 split: <b>6:53</b>, which included some of the uphill and the sharp 180 turn. At about 2.25 miles I pass two runners, including the first woman (who was listed in the results as 51 -- she didn't look a day over 35, so I'm not sure that's right). Somewhere around 2.75M I pass the 3rd place runner, who's laboring hard. I'm now top-3.<br><br>
Mile 3 split: <b>6:28</b>, seriously downhill, but the fastest timed mile I've done since early in HS when I was still playing soccer. I have the 2nd place runner in sight, but his kick is enough that I can't catch him. My official time was 21:28 (6:54/mile, 3.19M on the Garmin for 6:45/mile).<br><br>
3rd OA, 1st AG, PR by over a minute.<br><br>
Now for the Bondsian <span style="font-size:x-large;">*</span>. If I had run my pace for another 10 miles (uh, not gonna happen) I wouldn't have cracked the top-5 in the HM (which also had a quite slow field). My 5K time would have been good for 61/205 at the Tucson 5000 run in May, which attracts the most talented 5K field of the year (though it's run on a much faster course).<br><br>
That all said...Hey! Hardware! I'll take it!<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u212/keriksen75/OldSpanishTrailPen2.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Here's the good news. This race goes into the log nearly 8 minutes faster than last years race, and I weigh 11 lbs less than I did on Nov 5, 2006. That folks, is progress.<br><br>
Finally, here's a picture of Mandy and I after this finish. What a day:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u212/keriksen75/OldSpanishTrail_MeMandy.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">
Two weeks out from my first HM in Philadelphia, this 5K was well timed, and marked the last tough workout before my taper. After setting PR's in the 8K and 10 miler I ran for my last two races, I was hoping to do the same here. My previous best in the 5K was 22:40, run on a much easier course in June. I'm in much better shape now, so I thought I had a shot at breaking 21:45. I also had a secret goal. The 5K is the undercard for this event: there's a HM run at the same time, which tends to attract the better runners. Looking at past year's results, I thought I had a shot at a top-10 overall, and a show in my AG.<br><br>
I arrived an hour before the start, met my friend Mandy, chatted a bit, and had a chance to warm up. The Sun was out, and the temp 60* -- just about perfect. The half-marathon started at 7:30, and we lined up just after their start. Given my expectations for a high finish, I started in the second row. At 7:35, we were off.<br><br>
I was out of the starting mess quickly, and was 7th in a loose lead pack. Having run this race last year, I knew the out-and-back course was essentially straight uphill to the turnaround, and I hoped to run just sub-7 on the way out, and bang home. Within a few minutes, we were catching the back of the HM pack, making for more weaving than I would have liked. First mile split: <b>7:00</b>. OK, close to goal.<br><br>
The early leader looked like a HS kid who wasn't adequately trained. I lost him in the crowd, but he was behind me at the turn-around. I'm 6th at this point. According to my Garmin, the net elevation gain was 150ft from the start.<br><br>
Mile 2 split: <b>6:53</b>, which included some of the uphill and the sharp 180 turn. At about 2.25 miles I pass two runners, including the first woman (who was listed in the results as 51 -- she didn't look a day over 35, so I'm not sure that's right). Somewhere around 2.75M I pass the 3rd place runner, who's laboring hard. I'm now top-3.<br><br>
Mile 3 split: <b>6:28</b>, seriously downhill, but the fastest timed mile I've done since early in HS when I was still playing soccer. I have the 2nd place runner in sight, but his kick is enough that I can't catch him. My official time was 21:28 (6:54/mile, 3.19M on the Garmin for 6:45/mile).<br><br>
3rd OA, 1st AG, PR by over a minute.<br><br>
Now for the Bondsian <span style="font-size:x-large;">*</span>. If I had run my pace for another 10 miles (uh, not gonna happen) I wouldn't have cracked the top-5 in the HM (which also had a quite slow field). My 5K time would have been good for 61/205 at the Tucson 5000 run in May, which attracts the most talented 5K field of the year (though it's run on a much faster course).<br><br>
That all said...Hey! Hardware! I'll take it!<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u212/keriksen75/OldSpanishTrailPen2.jpg" style="border:0px solid;"><br><br>
Here's the good news. This race goes into the log nearly 8 minutes faster than last years race, and I weigh 11 lbs less than I did on Nov 5, 2006. That folks, is progress.<br><br>
Finally, here's a picture of Mandy and I after this finish. What a day:<br><br><img alt="" src="http://i169.photobucket.com/albums/u212/keriksen75/OldSpanishTrail_MeMandy.jpg" style="border:0px solid;">
