Even though I was cutting my mileage back this week, I decided I could handle a 5k. After all, I was going to run 10-12 miles anyway, so why not throw in a little tempo? I didn't have high hopes for a great time, but I did want to run hard nevertheless.
Got to the start early, ran a 5 mile warm up from the start and around Liberty Park a couple of times. The race has an aid station in the park and the volunteers had set it up past the turnaround point. I persuaded them that it might be better to have the aid station before the turnaround point and helped them move the table and water.
Today was a new course for this event and it was good. Started on the east side of Library Square, running south from 500 So. to 900 So., then up 900 So. to Liberty Park. Those that have run the Des News races know that 900 So. section as the last .5 miles of the race. It's much harder at the end of a 10k or marathon than in mile 1 of a 5k. Anyway, at Liberty Park, the course makes a little out and back loop along the west side of the park. Then it's just back to the start, same route. More or less completely flat when it's all said and done.
At the start I saw Neal Gassman and knew that he would be tough to hang with, let alone beat, given the awesome season he's having. He's also won here before at least once or twice. Anyway, from the start, Jose Martinez was out in front through the first .75, but then Neal caught him and I caught him. Another runner was with me through the turnaround, but I managed to pull away at about mile 2. Neal was long gone by that point, and building a lead. I also didn't have anyone too close to me so I wasn't pushing very hard in the last mile--at least not as hard as I could have pushed with some external motivation. Neal was first in 15:56, I was second--a full minute back in 16:55.
After the race, I cooled down with Neal and a few others, another trip on the course. Also got to meet Brent and Syliva. Great to put faces with blogs.
The ankle was pretty much talking to me all morning. Pain at level of 2-3. It is difficult to describe how conflicted I feel about running on it. It is slightly better, but not much. I don't much like the very idea of not being able to run and compete right now. I'll keep trying to manage it as best as I can--and try to be fairly intelligent about it. Hard to know if I'm better off in the long run by taking time off completely or by cutting back to 40-50 miles for several more weeks. The ankle has not yet provided a great answer to this question.
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