We haven't seen the sun in North Alabama for the last 12 days and it's been raining almost all of those days as well. Thankfully the rain took a break this moring and the family went over to Huntsville to run a 5K and 1 mile fun run.
This was my last chance to PR in a 5K this year, and with it being one week after a sub 3 marathon I probably had my sights sets too high. I have recovered remarkably well with still just a touch of right leg shin splints. I went in in 5:30 and felt pretty good, the first mile was mostly downhill. I went through 2 miles at 11:10 still feeling good. I was running by myself and was the only master up front, so I had no one to chase for the top masters place. The race starts and finishes in the same place so we had to ascend pretty much the last 3/4 mile and that took its toll on my tireing legs. My 3 mile split was 16:59 (fading) and the last .1 mile was uphill. Knowing I couldn't run that in 34 seconds, I just put my head down and pushed on through and finished with a 17:44. 6th overall, 1st Master.
Kelly ran well, 26:38, just a little off her PR. We all ran in the 1 mile fun run with Avy going out like lightning while carrying a teddy bear and wearing antlers, she faded at the half and Lily and Camille caught up to her. Lily also handed her antlers off to me and Camille made it through half the race with a blinking red nose over her nose. I made her take it off when her breathing turned into wheezing. I looked like a pack mule by the time I finished. This was a fun event and they raised a lot of money for Blount Hospitality House, the local Ronald McDondald House.
Now begins the training for Mountain Mist, see you on the trails. | 