Run Like Hell - 17:30 - 12th place
This was a big, fun race with over 2,100 runners - many of them in costume. There were some pretty outrageous ones that would make it hard to compelete a 5k in, and then there were people like me (1970's running theme) who tried to dress up a little but still try to run reasonably fast. I think only one costumed runner (a dude wearing a wig) finished ahead of me. The Juno theme was well represented this year I noticed.
There was a mass start (tricky in the dark) and I spent the first half mile passing lots of people, including several Ninja Turtles carrying pizza boxes. Also had to dodge some traffic the cops didn't block off going down the first hill. Hit the mile in about 5:25, feeling really good. Turned into the cemetery and it got really dark. There were torches and flashlights on the course, but I was pretty tentative through here - lots of hills and turns. Hit 2 miles in 11:20 and was back on the roads shortly after that. Passed a few more people but then got way too comfortable and got passed near the end. Like my last 5k, I did not compete well at all. Finished feeling way too good and fully recovered in about 3 minutes. One plus was the polyester get up didn't chafe me at all!
Fun party after the race, but I had to get back to downtown Cincinnati through the ghtetto so I decided to start the 3-4 mile cooldown before it got too late at night. Hey, I'm from Idaho and get scared easily.
Later went out with some of the group and had a 4 a.m. night. Rough times Saturday morning. | 