5.19k warm up. Nice cool day. My goal was to run a sub 37:30. I think I am getting in better shape, and have been excited to do better on my track 10k next Sunday. But I can't race next Sunday because Ben is getting confirmed as a deacon, graduating from Primary, and reciting an Article of Faith in sacrament meeting next week, so my plan for a better track 10k will be unrealized for a while. My last track 10k was 37:37, and then my road 10k was 37:36. Anyway, so I really wanted to break 37:30. We had a strong group of Team Italia again. Colin, our top runner, is moving out of HK in a couple of weeks, and this is his last road race, so this was one farewell, and we will have a farewell dinner this coming Wednesday. Our race is along a promenade along the Tolo Harbor, and the water was beautiful this morning. Colin and a friend went to a beach after the race, it starting to be beach weather! The course is 2k out, then 180, then back to the start, then 180, then 3k out, then 180, then 3k to the finish. It is almost completely flat. But the 3 u-turns cost a couple of seconds each. Kit Ching wasn't there, so my 1st place wasn't really in contention barring a blow up. I wanted to do a 3:45 first k, then try to drop to 3:44 and stay there. There were no markings at each k, just at 2k marks. I did a 7:31 first 2k, didn't take first place until about 1k. pretty close to where I wanted to be. Next 2k was 7:30, next 2k was 7:32, then 3:46 for the 7th k (a bit downhill), then 3:50 for the 8th k (a bit uphill), then pushed to try to gain some seconds to squeak below 37:30. I thought I did enough, but they were calling 37:32 as I approached the finish, but the time they posted was 37:30. I was pretty peeved at myself at the finish for not putting forth more effort. I didn't fall apart in the middle, but the 5 seconds given up in the 8th k came back to bite me. Oh well, a good performance, if not a great one. Our team's #2 girl out kicked another girl so we came in 1, 2, 4 for the ladies. We came in 1, 2, 3 for the men, Colin winning as usual. Roberto kicked butt and did something like 34:23? Crazy fast. I want to tap into some of his ability. Nice long cooldown with team mates and a gratefully quick awards got me home by 11:08, then changed clothes and took JJ to church. We got to church at 11:48 so he got a solid 12 minutes of primary. He wanted to go since he was supposed to bring two cookies to two kids who did not come to his class. I felt a bit sheepish coming so very very late and unshowered too, but glad I could have that time with JJ.
| 