Today was the annual Carlisle 5k. I have ran this race in 2008 and 2009, and won it each time, so i was in essence the defending champ. Being as such, and knowing the race director (my hs xc coach) he surprised me today and gave me bib number 1, pretty cool! Did a little warmup and felt ready to go. Got out solid and hit the first mile in 5:21.7. A nice first mile given it was up two decent hills. I had one runner staying with me at this point, but having this as my home course has its advantage, i knew that right after the 1st mile marker it is downhill pretty much all the way to mile 2. So I laid the hammer down and threw in a massive surge. I dropped him quick, and soon it was just me up front. I thought I was gonna win my 3rd straight. 2nd mile rolled by in 5:13.1. Nice negative split, although, I very much believe this mile was short given mile 3 and the fact that the marker was up from its old spot as the course was changed a tad. At mile 2 though, I got passed by a runner I knew from college and local races. I answered his surge for a little while, but I couldn't cover it completely and he gapped me with about .8 to go. I spent the third mile trying to reel him in but I couldn't do it. He had made a decisive move and today was his day. I ran the last 1.1 in 6:12, so right around 5:32 pace, which i believe was pretty decent and indicates very little slowing if the course markers were all equidistant. I crossed the tape in 16:46.9, but officially it was 16:47, which is fine, just tiny fractions of a second. That time ties my 2nd best ever and was just 9 seconds off my PR, which ironically enough, the winner ran 16:37, and my pr is 16:38, so if I would have PRed today, I would have probably won. Interesting food for thought. After the race, there was some talk of a shortened course, as they had changed it from last year. I got on and measured it online and it probably was a little short, more like 3.03-3.06 range. But that being said, I am still happy with my race and my time which I will count as a 5k race. I am just a runner, not a race director or course creator, so who am I to say that the course was off? Overall, great race, i really enjoy this one, not only is it my hometown race and course, but the people are awesome. Being the first carlisle finisher also netted me a 3 month snap fitness membership valued at over 100 dollars, so thats always nice. Ill prolly give it to my mom as I like to run outside.
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