There is nothing like the Alley Pond 5 Mile Challenge to say, "A'ight, the season is really(!) starting. Get your game on."
The weather was not great. It was in the 50's and raining. Yuck. Normally, I would switch to the treadmill but a race is a race is a race is a race. I knew all the crazies would still show up. We did too.
Initially, my kids said NO! to this race but after being reminded that it is a guaranteed trophy, they said ok. We left the house at 9:05, got there by 9:15 and was told the kids race was about to start which of course was a OMG! Got them registered and went to pickup Lee's and mine. The pickup was a disaster. Len who did same day registration was in and out before me who was pre-registered. The problem was that the people handling the same day registration had nothing to do. Me and others told them they have to help pick up the slack and things started moving. Gotta mention this to Gerry. Managed to pick up my stuff and get out to see Jeremy coming around the bend. He looked much better than last year. He said that he did also walk a little but he looked better. He did not "die" before the finish line like last year. He looked good finishing. Jessie did NOT fall this year and was actually happy not finishing last. Both kids were estatic to get a trophy AND a medal.
Time to head out to the starting line. I have a tendency to go out way to strong and then dying. This year, I decided not to. We started and I did not go out to hard. I saw the leaders and it was a little annoying not being with them but my only goal was to do as well as last year (39:22).
I get to the first mile and I hear the guy announce 7:03. I was sure the guy was drinking something until I glanced at my watch and realized he's right. I was at 14:13 at the second mile. What was weird was that I did not feel like I was pushing it. I was working but not crazy. At 3 miles I was at 21:20. At an approximate 5K, I was at 21:40. My best 5K was a 21 and a 21:30 so if you figure I would have been pushing a 5K, then realize I was having a GOOD day. Fast forward to the last 1/2 mile. Starting to push to the last 1/4. Starting the last downhill picking up the pace to a sprint. Passed the guy I was targeting. I built a 40 feet lead and started relaxing. Suddenly out of my peripheral vision on my left I see a blur of blue. I glance over and someone snuck in and was almost going to pass me. He pulled what I usually do to people. Nah, that does not work for me. I sprinted the last 10 feet to make sure I pass him. It felt good.
So I beat last year by almost 3 minutes. Last year I was in 2nd for age and this time I was in 8th. Mixed feeling here. My boss has a famous joke, where a doctor comes out of surgery and tells a young guy, "I have good news and I have bad news. The good news is we got the tumor out completly and the surgery was a complete success. The bad news is your father died." Still, it was a good run and probably had to do with getting my butt kicked every sunday by my crew.
We ended up kicking butt something fierce. The kids got 2 medals, 2 trophies. Jeremy won a $ 25 gift certificate to Scobee diner. Jessie won a $ 25 gift certificate to Quantum Athletics. Lee or me got a % 50 gift certificate to a bike store. Jeremy got 2 and Lee got 1 10 % gift card to another bike store.
All in all a good day.