In search of old age PRs

A new PR on a very fast course.  Things started late, so it was already hot at the start.  I was feeling really sorry for the 2+ hour guys out there today.  We had an interesting exchange at the start of the race.  Apparently, some dude and his family rented the "entire" campground and did not want people using the bathrooms at the start line...good luck with that.  He actually asked the runners to "keep it down," because his family was sleeping...seriously...wake their arsses up and come watch the start of this race!  BTW-we all used the bathroom. 

Mile 1: 5:46  We quickly formed a group of about 10 runners with two females (one was Mary Anne, but I do not know the other).

Mile 2: 5:47  The group stayed together and people took their turn at the front.

Mile 3: 5:49  I was feeling pretty good, so lowered my race target from 1:18 to 1:17.

Mile 4: 5:45  My running friend Craig begins a little push and we start to break away and lose runners.  Craig is out front by himself but there are still 5 of us in a pack with one female (we lost Mary Anne here; I believe she was having a tough day).

Mile 5: 5:49  Still in a good group.  I can still see Craig.  He has become my race target and I follow him all the way to the finish.

Mile 6: 5:48.  We lose the other female runner and begin to prepare for the climbs.

Mile 7: 5:53 First climb up toward the golf course.  Things are getting very warm now.  A Runners Corner guy takes off from the group after his friends on bikes ridicule him about going slow.  He quickly gaps me, but I try to stay close.

Mile 8: 5:44 Nice recovery after a small climb.  The Runners Corner guy is now cruising.  He was sandbagging the top.

Mile 9: 5:57 We are now on the trail and it has some tough little rollers.  The RC guy has passed Craig and is probably running sub 5:00 now. 

Mile 10: 6:05 I'm on my own now for the rest of the trail.  I can hear a couple of runners behind me, but try to focus on my pace.

Mile 11: 6:13 A very gradual uphill section.  I get passed by another runner that appears to be flying.  I know I'm slowing down and try to focus on getting back up to speed.

Mile 12: 6:17 Turn into the sub-division when side-stitch pain hits.  It has been a couple of years since I've had one of these in a race.  I did a very poor job hydrating at the water stops and I was now going to pay the price in the hot sun.  Two more guys pass me.

Mile 13.1: 5:33 Home stretch running hard.  I do not want anyone else to pass me and I'm trying to catch Craig and the other two guys between us.  My side-ache was still hurting, but I tried to run through it.

Total time in at 1:16:30.  The last mile was work, but I didn't feel completely spent.   This is a fast course and if they would start earlier or on-time this could yield even faster times.  Nice run and nice finishing area.  Most of our Runamok group PR'd today.  The awards ceremony was delayed and the race officials kept complaining about age group placers or male/female bib changes.  If you are going to bandit the race or run with someone else's bib number, please don't let them scan you or take your race number...better yet...don't go through the finish!  I'm sure they will be even bigger Nazis about the race bibs next year.

Mike Vick won the Men’s divisions.  He seems to win it every year.  They should probably change the name of the race to honor him.  Also, Lindsey Dunkley won the woman’s around 1:12…that’s incredible-almost a course record.  She could easily qualify for the Olympic Trials with that speed.  Meet a few bloggers at the start and can say I beat Walter-lol.