May 16, 2010

YPD 5k.
I told myself I was going to take this week off. It seemed like the right thing to do, what with the marathon just 4 weeks back and a couple of good races and decent long runs under my belt. Still, that was before this week became the "week of just enjoying some nice, fast, free running." My new (former) job was driving me crazy and I needed to throw out the script and just run. My longest was 10, shortest was 4. All fast. All going from 6:50 to 5:50. I just loved running this week. Took a day off and came into today's race at a paltry but smiling 32 miles on 5 days.
I have to admit I was a little concerned, as there were some quick dudes there and I began to wonder whether I should have heeded Reno's advice and took a small vacation, but even when we spoke, the caveat was whether this race offered $50 or $100. Well, they offered $100 and I needed a new display for the Mac Mini I just got. OK, truth be told, I also love the folks who put this on and the first 2 years they did I was injured and had to watch my friends tear up this flat, fast course.
So, Kristen went with (and so glad she did) and we got there with plenty of time for a warmup. Ran a little over 2 for that and was ready.
I figured there might be a sleeper, so I decided to take the approach that I took at Day of Portugal last year and go out moderate and then pick it up after the 1/2 mile. Went out at 5:14 pace and no one was around, so I picked it up and went through 1 in 5:10. Next was nice and smooth and I accelerated through that in a similar fashion and went 5:08. The 5k has never been my strength, but I wanted to at least keep my sub 16 streak alive, so I really cranked through the last mile in 5:05 and did the .11 at 4:42 pace and came away with a 15:56 and the win. I realize that it was last fall that I was in 15:36 shape, and I don't think I'm too far off that now, but I do think it's going to be a bit before I have any spring back in my legs. For this week, I'm going slow and deliberate and long early. Bedford is up next and that's where I just want to run 5:14's or better for the whole thing.

M-0
T- 7
W- 6
Th-10
F-4
Sa-5
Su-10

week: 42 miles