Not sure what you'd call a 2.95 mile race, but I ran one this morning. So I guess it was a PR for that distance. Race was billed as a 5K, but I was correctly advised before the start by a woman named Abrena who ran it last year (and was wearing her 2009 Boston Marathon tech shirt) that it was a tad short. She, however, also said that because of the hills, my time would likely be about equal to a full 5K.
Race started at the UA Gardens and went up Razorback Road past the stadium to the Pit. Right on Maple, down Sorority Row to Arkansas Avenue. Right on Arkansas past Old Main, then right on Dickson to Brough Commons. Left on Garland, then down the hill to Pomfret, past BWA and the softball field to Lot 56, then through 56, back into the Gardens and finish at the starting line. So you have an uphill on Razorback, two uphills on Maple, Arkansas is slightly downhill, two BIG hills on Dickson, steep downhill to Pomfret, slight downhill past BWA, slight up/down into 56, and flat to the finish.
First mile, being largely uphill, was quite slow, 7:54 pace. Second mile, steep up/down, 7:23. Third (almost) mile, mostly downhill, 6:48 pace. Official time, 21:18. They had a kind of chip timing I had not seen before. The chip looked like a keyring and they attached it to a wristband. When you got to the chute, a woman quickly scanned it with a handheld device. So it's conceivable that my real time was actually a few seconds quicker than 21:18, but not more than 3-4 seconds faster, so I'll go with 21:18 for my "5K". Turns out, nearly a month later, that I finished 13th overall.
I'd warmed up with a jog and strides, a little over 2.5 (warming up was important, as it was 29 degrees). Then the race, then after getting something to eat and drink I ran the course again with a detour around the perimeter of Lot 56 to cool down. So total run was approaching 9 miles. On the cooldown, I was still passing people who were running the "10K" part of the race (which was just two laps of the 5K course).
Pretty pleased with the run, especially with the steep uphills. My hill training seems to be paying off. I was catching people going up Dickson toward Brough, including Abrena in her Boston shirt (neon yellow and easy to spot). Didn't pass her, but I made up ground. Nice race for my first competition of the new decade.
I asked Abrena if she'd be in Boston in 2011. She said she's qualified for 2010 and will run then, but won't run in 2011 because her husband has had enough of marathon trips. I can kinda relate. | 