Overall Place: 51, Age group: 1
I had originally planned to try and do the 5k in Lutz on the morning of the 4th, but surprisingly that one sold out (not surprised by good attendance but maybe by the cap). I had been dreading the heat and stillness and humidity of the night air, but it didn't feel so bad.
Warmed up with some jogging and a few short strides to stretch the legs.
Race splits: 7:13, 7:23, 7:20, 0.1@6:43
Simple out and back on the Dunedin Causeway, race starts at 11:40 pm. First mile felt decent and I thought ok, I can pick it up a little more and be just under 22:00 or at worst a few seconds over. Away from the start line there are no street lights. Most of the light is from far away or from the green light for the drawbridge traffic signal. Turn around is about a half mile past the bridge. Running over it and onto the grate, worried I'll catch my foot and trip, wished I was wearing a light, but made sure to pick up my feet and was ok.
After the turnaround was passing people here and there, but I'd slowed a little instead of picking it up. Seeing 7:23 for the second mile a little disappointing. After that I started looking at my watch more often, pace had slowed even more down to 7:30. Didn't want to get passed, so dug in and got my feet to turn over a little faster and improved a little on 3rd mile compared to 2nd.
Jessica was near the finish line with the baby fallen asleep in the stroller. 3 years ago was the 10k which I ran with Jacob and we had Sophia and Aubrey there to cheer as well as Jacob's dad and three years before that, Andy and I did the 5k and 10k, my brother Jim ran the 10k, and Jamie was there, and Tom was just starting to run but did not come with us. Good memories, glad to be back here one more time. I'll bring a light next time!
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