AM: ran 4.83 miles on the tm in the morning, shake out for race in the evening. PM: had a 5k race on the track. Warmed up 6k, very excited to find out that Alison Chow is racing it. She is the to HK marathoner, just got a 2:49 in the fall, and a 2:48 last month. We have trained together in the fall, but then she went to mainland to train, and she has recently come back to HK. We haven't raced each other yet, but I suspected we are pretty close, and having her in the race meant that I would need to work hard and would have company. Her coach said she would go out with 84s and I wanted 85s so that was awesome. So here's how the race went: 600m - 2:09, the first 200m was 44 or so, too slow, so I took the lead after 200m and got us I think an 4 for the first full lap 2 - 85 3 - 85 4 - 85 5 - 84 6 - 86 For the first six laps we would trade leads every 1-1.5 laps, then she took over and I let her keep the lead 7-87 8 - 86 9 - 86 10 - 87, she has gradually increased her lead to about 5 seconds by now 11 - 86, I know she is tired and I try to get back into it, with the bell I am about 4 seconds behind, Roberto was there screaming at me to go for it. Paul was also there cheering for me, it was inspiring 12 - 75, for the first 100m I am trying to muster up will, I am considering if I can pass her in the second 100m, in the third I go for it, and I pass her with about 90m to go, and I beat her by 4 seconds. 17:46 total, one second faster than my last 5k. It was hotter than the last 5k but still decent racing weather (perhaps 22C?). Only did 500m cool down because we had a dinner party at night. It was at a private kitchen run by one of the Italia running club members who is a chef and is actually an Italian. It was really fun. Got home after midnight. I had no real sleep until 4am, the evening was too exciting. 2 hours of sleep--bleh!
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