This is my best run to date. Some of my thinking is below:

I'd built up to this doing some negative split runs of 4.0 miles or less on the Y dreadmill. I was very concerned at the start that the cold would make my bronchitis act up and impair my breathing, and I was sorted in the pack during the first mile or so, I felt short of breath, and this worried me...

But there was a very good reason. I hit the Mile 1 marker, checked my watch, and I'd gone out at an 8:35 pace. Brain says "YEAH! This is great but tooooooo fast bucko." Legs felt great, and I realized the reason I was short of breath was because I was kicking ass pacewise (for me). So mentally, I settled down and my breathing sorted itself out. With NO wheezing!

Throttled it back a little, but I had a watch split of 17:45 at Mile 2. Awesome. Sub 9:00 miles... and I started to think, if I continue to feel this good, I'm going to blow away last month's time on this course... maybe even go sub 55:00. My 2nd fastest 10K was 20+ years ago as a 20something, almost 56:00, and I'm starting to have delusions at this point that I'll beat that.

Experimented a bit with leaning forward more and increasing my run cadence and I do run faster like that but my knees don't like that running style, so I only used this when I wanted to pass someone. I didn't get dropped much in the race after the pack sorted itself out.

Got close to the turnaround and noticed something VERY nice... for a change, I wasn't seeing the leader 'early', but with the turnaround in visual range. Hit the turnaround at 27:00 something, and as I'm running around the dude playing Human Pylon, I look back and see Ashley, the 30 year old running acquaintance of mine that's kicked my ass in 3 races BEHIND me. She's a good runner, so having her 50 yards back, I knew that I was kicking butt and taking names today.

Kept my head down and focused on not losing speed/ground in the 2nd half. I really quit paying attention to splits and kept focused on staying strong. I felt strong and in control the whole time and I would experiment with pushing pace/cadence in tiny bits to see what I could maintain.

I dropped another 2 people but got dropped by 3 others 2/10ths of a mile from the finish. I saw the numbers in the 54:00s, but I'd really laid it out and I didn't have the gas for a sprint at the end, but flashed in at 55:15 for the 2nd fastest 10K of my life. Not bad for a 45 year old old fart.

I was smiling, tired, but not looking like I was going to puke at the finish... like I usually do.

I could've pushed the 2nd half pace a smidgen more, but this was my best footrace that I've done so far since 1/2006, no question.

Grabbed a few cups of water and hung out. Warmed down QUICKLY as the temp was still barely above freezing with the sun, walked to the car. changed into a dry shirt and drove home. My left knee was a little sore, I'll have to watch that. I didn't take any water during the race... I really didn't want water splashed on my clothes in sub-freezing temps.. so my left calf did cramp a little at Mile 5 but I just ignored it and pushed through.


I could lose 10 pounds, but now that I'm starting to run train smarter, I just need to do MORE of it. And lose 10 pounds.

I should've chased those two 30something ponytails that passed me in the last mile HARDER. LOL


Of all of the races I've done since 1/2006, this is my best race so far. It wasn't a PB, but... 2nd best PB isn't bad :) This is the first time I've felt like I was really racing and competitive within my limits rather than just merely surviving to the end. Its a great feeling!

I'll edit the report with the placings when its posted online tomorrow. WOOT!

UPDATE: Overall 73/118 and 9/10 AG. Its so much fun to be in the most competitive AG. I still have a lot of work to do though running wise, but at least I'm starting to sniff the back of the MOP :)