My legs were sore and a little tired on Thursday, so I took Friday off. I am glad I did because there was not a hint of either when I ran a short warm-up. Today was the 4th Annual Alumni versus Current Team from my old high school. The current coach, and someone I ran with back in the 80's is trying to make this bigger and better each year. Unfortunately there were about 4 guys from the late 70's, then me from the 80's, and a decent size group of alumni for the past 5 years or so. This year they counted every alumnus as a scorer and the same number of runners for the current team. It ended up being very close. But the current team won with a 232. Alumni were 235. The course was two loops of 90% grass, 5% dirt / rocks, and 5% track / road. I have been training on the streets or treadmill for so many years it was weird running on the grass. I kept thinking I was going to turn an ankle. Once the race started it was no different than any other 5K with high school runners. They all took off in a big sprint. The course was marked every 400 yards. At the first 400 I did take a look at the Garmin and it showed 6:30 pace. I never checked it again. At the first mile I heard 6:30 called out. I was very pleased by this. In my training since March I do not think I have gone under 7:00 but a handful of times. And nothing under 6:45 that I can remember. I wondered how long I could hold on to this pace. At two miles I heard 13:10, so I figured I was slowing. Turns out my Garmin had it differently, 6:31. My legs were really burning that last mile of the race. I could feel myself starting to slow with a half mile to go. Somehow I was able to push some to get back on pace. Last 100 yards I really tried to use my pathetic kick. It only lasted for 80 yards though. 20 yards later I was finally done. I was very tired but happy with my time. Slower by 50 seconds from my 5K in March. But that was completely flat and on asphalt. It was fun running around my old high school again. I felt like I was racing my younger self. I cannot believe I used to look that young and run that fast back in the day. Saw my old coach, who reminded me I had not contacted him in 21 years. I was probably the 5th oldest runner. Got beat by one person older than me, but only by 4 seconds. I beat a small handful of the JV team runners and all the girl runners. There was a cookout in the evening. I did not know anyone but the coach. I was picked to be on an alumni committee. I am supposed to track down the 1980's alumni's. I might need some luck with that one. Now that I am home I was able to check out my Garmin. In training I almost always negative split. Not really on purpose, I just like taking it easy at first and picking up as I go along. But today I just took off at what felt like the fastest I could run. Apparently I was able to hold that pace for the full race. Not sure what to think of it...good? bad? neither? Ran this race in 2006 in 21:33 (6:49 avg.) So I did manage a PR for this course.
Warm-up Race | 