I've run this race on and off for as long as I can remember. I was 16 when I first ran it and it always brings back a lot of memories of the "glory days." I've run it in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2009, 2011, and now 2013. I've never finished so well as I have today however. The first thing I noticed when I got into Ohio was how low the temp/humidity felt compared to the swampy nastiness down here in DC. My mom was talking about how humid it was but it didn't seem to bother me. It was 72 and overcast at start time. That's about as good as it is going to get for a summer race. I warmed up and ran into my friend Justin Dickman and his wife. Dickman has been around awhile at this race and almost always wins. I ran with him when we were in high school and his dad graduated with my dad and even dated my aunt back in the 70s. Anyway it was great to see him again. I wasn't too worried about the outcome since I've been less than stellar at races lately. I just took it out easy at a pace that I thought felt good to me. By starting nice and steady I had room to go faster toward the end. Turns out I executed it very well. The first mile was 5:08 then the second was 5:01 but of course that marker was off. Dickman and this other fast guy were still in sight which is something I never thought I could pull off. I dropped the brother of the guy I used to run the mile against in high school and proceeded to drop the rest on the "hills" on the bike path in Farot Park in Lima. Coming up the last turn I kicked it in and was astonished to see the clock at the 15:50s as I ran the last hill. Set a PR which I was very thankful to do. This tells me that I'm on the right track and that the consistency I've been working on is going to set me up for a great fall. After the half in September there is no doubt in my mind that I'll be able to drop a sub 16:00 on a nice crisp October morning this fall. Can't wait until then! Results Article on the race 
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