Got up this morning and ran the riverfest 10k. Got to the race and saw Melissa who I used to coach with. (she is a very good runner so I knew I would have some competition) Sure enough Melissa beelined right out as soon as the gun went off. I was about 5-10 seconds behind her at the first mile-split was 6:18, second mile 6:20-(by this time I caught up with Melissa and we were running side by side) Started feeling my calf get crampy and tight at this point-not a good sign. The next mile was slight uphill-split was 6:49, mile 4 was 6:58 (very uphill) At this point Melissa and I are pushing it together side by side and I am totally trying to ignore my hurting calf. Mile 5 was downhill and 6:25. (we are still running side by side encouraging each other) With about .3 left in the race I decided to go for it and started my kick and Melissa wasn't able to hang. She did a great job though and I was glad to have her to push me. I didn't get mile 6 split-but I got my split for 1.26 at 8:07 wich is a 6:28 pace. I showed the course as being .6 too long. They showed my time as 41:00-but if it really was .6 too long it would have been around 39:35 which is a 6:32 avg pace. Not too shabby considering the terrain of the course and the hills. I am satisfied but now I am paying for it with a sore calf. The race really irritated it. I probably should have just dropped out but I am too competitive. I hope it can be better by two weeks for the marathon or I am in trouble. | 