PM - Fast Tuesday's 5k
This was a small, semi-formal 5k race put on by a local running store. $10 for entry and prize money for top 3 male and female runners. Course was across from the new outlet mall on SR 56 near I-75 in a new yet to be developed sub-division. The course was well marked, there was a guy timing it and a guy leading the lead runners on a bike. Each loop was just over a mile, so it was just under 3 full loops. I warmed up with a little over a half mile easy jogging, then two 25 second strides, then lined up.
There were two fast looking guys and a girl who looked like she might be fast. Started out without really looking at my pace and was running near the girl for almost the first half mile as she started pulling away. At that point my pace so far was about a 5:45. I tried to stay steady without pushing too hard early in the race. The two guys and the girl steadily spread out from me and each other. Stayed near 6:00 pace and finished the first mile in 6:03. I pretty much was able to hang onto that pace for a good part of the second mile but ended up slowing a little and finished at 6:10.
Temperature was about 81 degrees, a little humid but nearly as bad as the Dunedin Midnight 5k a couple weeks ago.
Third mile started feeling really slow but I gradually got back some of the pace I was losing and finished that mile at 6:30, then kicked it in at 6:00 pace for last 0.18.
The 3 loop course had a good number of turns which I didn't do a great job with the tangents.
6:03, 6:10, 6:30, 0.18 @ 6:00
So, basically much faster and less fall apart at the end than the last couple of 5k's. I felt a little bit stronger and more confident from the steady base work I've been doing
The other really nice bonus was the $20 prize money for 3rd place male.
7.32 mi, 1:06:12, 9:03 avg, HR 127 avg, 136 max, HRR 38
Cooler out this morning (from last night's rain) and earlier start made this a much easier feeling run. It was also my fastest maf run so far with the pace slowly edging towards under 9:00 pace. Today's conditions were similar to last week but with a small improvement. Still need to keep at it.
Saw Andy, Thomas and the CC team heading out for their run while I was coming back. Last night for their practice they included a 1 mile time trial at the track and Thomas ran his fastest mile ever - a 6:10. I'm not sure if he's ever broken 7:00 before He's been running with CC team since the start of summer putting in 20-25 miles (including swimming cross training).
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