For the first time since the spring of 2000, I participated in a 5k today. The Running Of The Leopards 5k is a super fast course from Hogle Zoo, through Research Park, then down 800 East finishing with nearly a full lap of the East High School track (334 feet net loss in elevation). Still feeling a little under the weather (but better than earlier in the week), I arrived at the East High Stadium parking lot early in the morning to check-in and pickup my packet. After talking to one of my Wasatch Back teammates who was also running the race, I kept warm by jogging up to Sunny Side Avenue and then Hogle Zoo. I continued at an easy pace up to the Bonneville Golf Course by way of the Deseret News Marathon course before meeting up with one of Salt Lake Running Company group friends and heading back to the starting line to make final preparations for the race. I completed an even 3.0 miles of this pre-race run.
At 8:30, the starting gun sounded and we (i.e., myself and approximately 750 other runners) were off at a fast pace. With the exception of a little hill on Sunny Side Avenue and a slight incline through Research Park, the course was flat or downhill. Having not run really hard for a number of days due to my cold, my lungs were feeling it a little bit. However, I worked on leaning into the decline on the hills and made good time of 16:33 (mile splits: 5:29, 5:15, and 5:24). In addition, I had a good time by enjoying the festivities, treats, and conversing with my friends at track. The last time I raced on this particular track (which is a really nice track since the high school shares it with the University of Utah) was in 1996. I remember this track meet well since the Olympic Torch Relay came through the stadium during our meet on it’s way to Atlanta for the Summer Games.
In order to get in some more miles, I ran back home down 1300 South (i.e., all downhill from East High) at an easy pace. I then headed back out to checkout the new Salt Lake Running Company store on 2400 South and 700 East. While at the spacious store, in preparation for the Salt Lake City Marathon coming up on 17th of April, I picked up a new pair of AdiZero Mana Racing Flats (note: the new Mana’s are 1.5 ounces heavier than my old ones--8.75 to 10.25 ounces--however, maybe a little better at handling the pounding of a marathon) before heading back home. The total distance of my post-race running was 12.7 miles at an easy pace.
Finally, for my non-running workout I completed my typical 300 sit-up and 30 push-ups. | 