Cruise in Shoes 5K

Time: 21:59
pace: 7:05
Place: 33 overall
7th in age group.
No Medal :(

I thought for sure I'd break 7 minutes again.  I was once again in the best shape of the year.  It was a super early start time.  The weather was perfect... but a few things didn't go in my favor:

1. The track was long.  My phone listed it as 3.15 miles (that makes a huge difference)
2. Hills: there were no major hills, but there were several of them
3. Grass: the final 1/4 mile was on grass. 
4. I got there late, and had to park about a 1/4 mile away.   I ended up jogging back and fourth from the car twice; which exhausted me a bit
5. Playlist: I forgot to set the run to my playlist.  I ended up running to some slow tunes.. I know it seems trivial - but this does have an impact on speed and Adrenalin.
6. I started too fast: 6:40 in the first mile.   I was already put to 7:05 after 2, and it was very difficult to maintain (let alone improve) that for the final mile.

Despite my 3rd best time of the year - I did not place.   a fifth of the people ahead of me were males in my tight age group (35-39).    I left the race feeling pretty disappointing, and instead of taking away that great 5K accomplishment feeling with me all day, I just wanted to get back out on the trail shortly after.

A week after the race, I've taken one day off.  My legs have never felt so sore.  I ran twice (7 miles) yesterday - just so I could reach 60 miles for the first time - and it was only the 22nd day of the month.   I am forced to rest at least today.   2 more weeks till the big Kayla event.