Burlington 5K - Run

This comes two weeks after my goal marathon. I didn't have a great marathon and didn't have really high expectations for this race. I was really hoping I could run a sub-20:00. My PR is 19:45 but I wasn't thinking about that. All of my running since the marathon has been easy. I hadn't even done any fast strides.

I lined up on the front row, something I only do for small races. When the race started, the rest of the front row shot out ahead of me. I tried to ignore them and just run my own race. I wasn't racing them...I was racing the clock. Being competitive though, I did see that I was in 12th place early on. As the first mile continued, I started passing people. I was in 5th place by the end of mile 1. I felt good, running well and my breathing was under control.

Early into mile two, I passed 4th and 3rd place. I was running my own race but was happy to be passing people. I was still feeling good and holding a good pace. I passed the 2nd place runner around the halfway point of the race. He surged to hold onto his spot, but I could tell by his heavy breathing that he was done. He quickly faded. I was now in 2nd place but by the end of mile two I was in 5K pain hell.

Mile 3 turned onto a side street with a roundabout. This street started as a gentle incline for about a half mile, leading into the turnaround. In the late stages of a 5K, the incline felt like a mountain. As the leader went by me in the opposite direction, I gave him a thumbs up which, which he returned. I hit the turnaround and could see the 3rd place runner wasn't going to catch me. As the incline changed to a decline, I hit the gas. The course turned back onto the main road and I was giving it all I had. My first glimpse of the clock showed 19:40, at which point I knew I had my sub-20:00. I crossed in 19:55 and in second place. I pumped my fist a few times before almost puking.

Pace splits were 6:21, 6:19, 6:43, 6:19.

I am very happy with this race after a tough marathon. This is my highest finish ever in a running race (also got 2nd in a duathlon once), though I am more excited about breaking 20:00 for the third time in my last four tries. My PR is 19:45 and I'll be looking to break that in December.

Nothing. I executed this race well.

I shook hands with the winner and spoke to a few other runners who congratulated me on my race. That was cool. I hung around for the awards ceremony to collect my medal. HOORAY!


Running this two weeks post-marathon. My legs were not recovered.


This is a good "small local race" to support the local land trust. Roads were closed to traffic and there were plenty of high school volunteers to help. Post-race provided hot coffee and cookies, perfect for a cool autumn day. Results were posted online by the time I got home. For a $20 5K, you can't ask for much more.

The course is flat and fast.