21:59 (new PR)
This was a strange race.
The temperature was about 68° with 85% humidity under mostly cloudy skies and a slight breeze. I was very focused to start the race. I had arrived about 90 minutes ahead of the 8:30 start time. There was a small problem with my preregistration but that was easily taken care of (thanks for sponsoring me this weekend - Brookfield Properties).
I was probably over-hyped for a big run. I was going to run MY race; others weren't going to dictate my pace or strategy. That probably would have been fine if I really had a strategy. Earlier in the week Jonathan reminded me of a recent article in Runner's World suggesting that by going out fast a better 5K time could be achieved. I had mulled this most of the week and decided it was worth a try. Well, that is until the night before the race. At that point, I convinced myself that the first mile is never really a problem for me ... it's mile 2. During the first mile, my competitive juices are flowing and it's relatively easy to flow with and pass others. So the night before, I decided to focus on the second mile.
Arriving early allowed me to warm up and stretch better than I have to date. It looked like it was going to be a fast race with a good sized field. The course wasn't published online so I was left to study a map at the convention center. I really just wanted to know where the mile markers should be. Fortunately either Luke's Locker or Run Far had placed mile markers with large clocks on course. I hadn't seen this before and I really appreciated it.
A side note, I'm not fast. I'm a solid middle-of-the-pack guy. But why do young kids and people with dogs (yes, there was one in front of me) feel the need to crowd the front of the start line? Come on people ... show some common courtesy!
The start horn went off and so did I. I was going to run MY race. I felt smooth and strong ... everything was clicking ... for about 2/3 mile. Then I started to wonder if I had gone out too fast. Finally, the one mile mark appeared. I crossed at 6:50. This was about where I wanted to be time-wise. However, after about another half mile, I wasn't feeling good and actually began questioning why I was even there. The conversation with myself went on for awhile. Long enough for me to suggest that I really don't like this and that I'm not going to do it any more. Then mile marker 2 popped up and I crossed at 14:00. (So much for that strong second mile!)
The last section of the race circled Minute Maid Park. Oddly, I was alone. There wasn't anyone ahead of me close enough to reel in and there really wasn't anyone close behind me. Usually at this stage, I'm looking for some strong runner to pass me and to "hitch a ride" with them. Finally, an older guy passed me but I just didn't have anything to hold it together so I had to let him go. I heard footsteps and soon another guy pulled up along side. I was determined to stay with him! We ran side-by-side until finally he edged ahead. After the last turn on the course about 75 meters remained. Summoning everything I had (which didn't seem to be much), I found some reserved strength and fired up a kick. From a spectator's perspective I'm sure it didn't look like much but I passed both of the guys who had passed me earlier. (Thanks to Joe's speed workouts!) I thought I was under 22:00 and was sure that I was faster than my previous best. At that point, all of the negative thoughts from the middle of the race evaporated in my own personal euphoria.
I got water and a bagel. The unofficial results were posted. I was VERY pleased with my hard earned 21:59. Surprisingly, I was also listed as 5th in the 40-44 age group.
Later Saturday evening, I was back in Utah watching the Jazz beat the Rockets in Game 4 of their NBA playoff series.
