Goal Accomplished! I got a genuine Bronze Medal!
Martin Mile Time: 3.10 miles, 22:04: 7:07/mi
This was my best time since 2008! More amazing - over 40 seconds faster pace than any other run this year!
The time secured me my first top-3 position in a huge event like this - with over 40 other males in my age group. i was also position #39 overall - that's out of 1,400+.
Just to top things off, it was the beautiful morning of the year thus far, and the wife and kid were there to share it with me. That day's great run - and the medal - and the wonderful feeling I carried around with me all weekend - were exactly what this was all about. I just can't believe it happened so soon, just under two months from the first time I strapped on the shoes and attempted a 2 mile run.
What's ironic is that I nearly missed the race. We were walking to the line as the national anthem played, and i wasn't 100% convinced I was in the right one to begin with. There were a lot of different races in this event. I was worried I was in the 10K line instead.
As the gun blasted I was still tying my shoes. I was a little bit back in the group - and didn't cross the start line for about 20 seconds. It took another 20 seconds just to free myself from the congestion - a frustrating yet enjoyable phase of most 5Ks (Enjoyable - in that you're passing people, and eventually weave yourself into freedom). Btw - i actually had someone curse at me while i was weaving in and out, "No Weaving!". Sorry sir - I was on a mission.
The first mile of a 5K is so unique. With adrenaline rushing in, you can barely feel your legs - and have no idea how fast you're really running. I'm always amazed when I find myself at an absurd pace of .. let's say "6:45" in the first half mile - when my first half mile pace at home is usually 7:45 or so. It's easily the BEST part of these events. You don't feel like your running any faster than usual - but you're just cruising! However - you have to be careful. Starting out too fast will set you up for a disaster in the last mile. Fortunately in this race, my pace at the half mile mark was about 7 minutes - and at a mile it was roughly 7:10; still absurd - but at least in the ballpark.
I turns out, I kept up that pace the entire run. I think I crossed 2 miles at 7:17. And a little trick I've learned from running the past months - I will almost always finish with a better pace than the 2 mile mark - this is because i usually save up a nice burst for the last 100 yards.
I don't remember much more about the run, except that I was dying - and gave it all I had, and wanted to throw up as I let loose on that final 100-yard burst.
I also remember entertaining the "cheerers" with cheers of my own - and getting a bit of a surge everytime someone approached me - or when i wanted to catch up to someone. Basically - I used every thing I could from the event to muster up more energy. I ended up running faster in that last mile than the previous two. And low and behold - when I crossed the finished line - I saw 22:XX. I couldn't believe I came in under 23...
My friend Andy predicted I would come in under 22. It was an insane prediction that was just 5 seconds short. It was the second fastest 5K of my life, but given the the circumstances, easily the Best Run Ever.
And -- I got the medal that had eluded me all last year. And with that - I suppose it's time to wrap up the blog. I accomplished my goal. What else is there to say? Well.... maybe there is ... something more ....
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