Ran the Loveland 4-miler today, which is my first race since early October of last year. Purpose was just to be a rust-buster, and get a good idea of where I'm at fitness-wise. And hopefully win, of course. It ended up being perfect conditions for a race, sunny and warming to mid-40s by the 10AM start time (on route to low 60s for the afternoon high). No wind, which is big this time of year on the Front Range. The course was a flat loop that goes around Lake Loveland (starts and ends at the high school). My goal going in was to break 21:00, but I thought that faster was a possibility. Warmed up by running the course, and then some strides. Saw one other guy wearing a Boulder Running Company singlet (Bobby Reyes), so knew I would have some competition at least from him (BRC has a really good racing team every year). The race started, and the BRC guy took the lead right off the bat, and I just tried to stay on his shoulder. Pace was a little fast for me, but didn't seem insane either, so I decided to stick with him rather than letting him go. Didn't hear anyone behind me, so it would probably just be the two of us. Hit the first mile in 4:51, which indeed was a "bit" fast (I was planning on 5:05). But I think it was a net downhill, so that could explain part of it. Soon after the first mile I was able to pull up next to the BRC guy, and then moments later he dropped behind me. I was a little surprised to gap him. 2nd mile split was 5:12, so a bit slower, but still well within where I thought I should run. Still feeling good for the third mile, and now definitely all alone, other than the bike pacer. But for my first race of the year, and given my mileage of 60-70/week, I was feeling strong and snappy. Hit 5:03 for Mile 3, meaning my 5K was somewhere near 15:40. Tried to keep the pace going for the last mile, and even pick it up. Felt like my body was responding (other than my lungs, which were starting to burn...cursed short races...), but my last mile ended up being the slowest at 5:16. It's possible that Mile 3 was a little off, making 3 seem fast and 4 seem slow, but no matter. Ended up 20:24 for my final time, which is probably a road 4-mile PR, since I never run this distance. I'm really happy with how I felt, and think that I pushed hard and got a good feel for my real fitness on a nice day and on a fast course. 2nd place guy ended up 21:40. I'll try to up my mileage over the next few weeks by introducing doubles. We'll see...work is really busy, so I barely have time to think about running anymore...just need to put in some time and sound workouts and good things will happen though.
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