Quick, MP-5K progression workout that hopefully provided a needed tune-up for my second consecutive 5K this Saturday. Splits included: Mile 1: 6:58; Mile 2: 6:40; Mile 3: 6:18; Mile 4: 6:00; and Mile 5: 5:52 .25 Mile cool down for 5.25 total miles. I ran strong on the treadmill today, approaching "puke pace" toward the end of Mile 5. But it was just what I needed... In addition to celebrating my 10-Year Class Reunion this weekend in beautiful Fordyce, Arkansas (home of the mighty Redbugs!), my goal is to win my first 5K with a sub-18:30 time (which would also be a PR). I finished fourth running an 18:34 in a considerably larger race in Little Rock last weekend, and unless a ringer decides to enter the 50-60 person, small town race for the hell of it, I should have a pretty good shot. In fact, two years ago, I finished second to just such a ringer (who, in hindsight, wasn't so much a ringer). The fact is that this race has a lot of sentimental value for me given my father's past success as a local, elite short-distance racer. He won the Fordyce on the Cotton Belt 5K (it's part of a week-long festival celebrating the town's historic link to the Union Pacific Railroad "Cotton Belt"), setting a course record of 16:38 in his mid-30s. My dad, who is now 57, and just qualified for Boston in his first Marathon, will be running the race as well, and it would be great to win one for him. After all, he's coached, pushed and motivated me for the last 28 years. The least I can do is provide him with a little fatherly pride on what should be a beautiful Easter Weekend. And he may finish second... Wesley
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