10:00 AM - I got up early and had half a bagel with some fat free squirt butter. Cup of coffee, and then I got Jonn up. He came to run the 5k too. The whole morning I couldn't help but get nervous because this was my first "big" 5k race since I started to run again. Didn't know what to expect. It's funny how throughout undergrad all I thought about was 5k/10k races. Now anything shorter than a 5miler or 10k and I feel like I'm not even warmed up. Today was to be a true test.
WARM-UP: Got to Spa Park. It was nice to finally have a race close to home after all the traveling to races lately. Was able to leave with Jonn at 9am and got there 9:20. Walked to the registration table. As Jonn got his shirt, Laura Clark handed me my bib number and shirt. "I saw you walk in, Benn! Here's your stuff." She's so nice! Got pins and walked back to the car with Jonny. After pinning on our bib numbers we went for a warmup jog. Did 1 mile warm up in 9:56. Nice and easy. It was the first time Jonny's run since this summer's 5k series. All he does lately is lift weights and hang out with his girlfriend. Imagine that! Haha. After the warmup we stretched and got ready and went over to the starting line with about eight minutes to go.
THE RACE: Made small talk with Jonn, and got ready to go. Was looking around and saw a lot of serious runners from the Capital District. The 5k race also doubles as the Upstate New York Masters' Championship. So there were a lot of 40+ year olds that looked ready to slice and dice. I saw Chuck Terry there, as well as Shaun Donegan, who just ran a 15:48 on a flat road course last week and set a :30 PR. Can't wait to see results to see how he did. Right before the gun went off I noticed a guy in the Brooks-Hansen team jersey. I don't think you can buy them online, so he's the real deal. And sure enough from the gun he took the lead. From what I could see he still had the lead at 600m when I lost sight of him around a corner.
MILE 1: (6:41) I followed people out, not used to the fast starts. With all the races I've done this fall, I always start off at 10 minute+ pace! Settled into a rhythm next to Jonn, and followed him to the turn at the end of the straightaway. We made our way over the asphault to the trail, and I noticed a guy running barefoot. After the race I found out this 6'4"ish guy runs against Jonny sometimes in XC meets so he's still in high school. He had really great form, and even kept running at a pretty good clip when he hit the sharp rocks on the downhill. I don't think the back of his foot even touched the ground. I flew down the hill, across the parking lot and bridge, and then up the hill towards the Pearless Pool. I realized here that my long runs on the trails were starting to pay off. I passed people left and right on the uphill. I am not a super great descender, but ascending, I can push pretty hard. I just shorten my strides and keep the same cadence (must be my bike riding mindset that helps me here). Flew past the 1 mile guy and he yelled out 6:30 I think. I'm surprised that my Garmin was more or less accurate despite some of the thick foliage above me as I ran.
MILE 2: (6:55) The pack had started to thin a bit, and I ran the perimeter of the pool, pulling up behind a group of three or four masters runners. Jonn had faded behind me by now, and I kept pushing. We pushed down the hill on the left side as some of the slower runners continued to make their way up it. Running alongside the river, we came to the bridge and I got stuck behind a college guy wearing an iPod. I couldn't ask him to move and even if I did he wouldn't have heard me no doubt. Waited until after the bridge to breeze by him and then started up Fern Dell, one of my favorite parts of the course. It is a nice gravel trail that is steady uphill for about .3 miles before leveling off for the remainder of the race. Pushed hard and hit the 2 mile mark around 13:20 the guy yelled out. Super Benn! I thought. Last time you ran the course you were somewhere in the 17-18:00 range! Flying!!
MILE 3+: (6:56) I find that after going up an uphill, I need to take a minute or two to let my breathing go back to the 3 steps in 3 steps out racing pattern I favor. I crested the hill out of Fern Dell, beared to the right and kept my sights on the pack in front of me. No one else passed me during the race, aside from one guy whom I smoked and caught at the 200m to go mark. Mile 3 is awesome because there is a .6 mile loop through the woods before spitting you out to run the last .35 miles on a grass/dirt/gravel straightaway. I kept it steady, breathing pretty heavy. This was about the fastest I've run in two years remember! Spit out into the clearing and headed for home. I closed the gaps on the pack in front, but only caught 2 of them. Then passed the final guy in the 200 m to the end area. Felt strong. My arms are stronger (just from lifting the 12lb weights!) and despite carrying my water bottle, my form was good. Arms were a lot higher than they used to be. Hit the finish line, and ripped off my tag. Not sure of the place yet because results aren't posted. Jonn came home about 22:00; I was 20:36. Finally kicked his butt in a race. Only it took his inactivity to help me hahahah.
Total Time: 20:36 Total Distance: 3.106 miles Average Pace: 6:37/MILE!!
COOL DOWN: Did a cooldown mile with Jonny in 9:38, stretched and booked for home. Went to an Indian restaurant today with my family, Emmy, Jonny's girlfriend Ellen, Emmy's parents, our friend Kara and my Aunt Debbie and my cousins Kara, Kevin, Laura, Naomi, and Miriam. Oh and my Uncle Lee showed up too! What a great time was had by all! Now I'm home to do homework and laundry. Blah!
Preliminary results posted. I got 54th place, only 4 seconds off a top 50 finish. Doh! Jonny got 77th. Total Field size was: 226. Not a bad place considering it was a championship race!!
TODAY WAS AWESOME. Only :52 seconds off of my 5k PR of 19:44; And I am about 30 pounds heavier than when I set that PR. This bodes well for future races. Without doing too much speedwork, I am starting to gain speed again! Fight on friends, and keep on truckin'! | 
