Star Trax 5k

  So, last week i finished 4 straight weeks of 125+ mileage and it seems to be helping.  I ran my first sub 17:00 5k this year on a long course... so in reality, it was only a second or 2 off my pr pace so i was extremely happy with that one.  My current pr is 16:31 for a 3.11 mile course 2 years ago which is a 5:18 pace and Star Trax is always long... 3.17 is what i had which is a 5:20 pace.

  It was least expected as i wasn't even sure if i was gonna race it when my stomach wasn't feeling well and i couldn't hang with Scott or Todd for the warm-up.  I worked a few hours early on an extension ladder cleaning out gutters and I was fed a lunch of 2 turkey burgers afterwards with a could small side dishes.  I think it was something that I ate which caused the sick feeling.  I bet it was still digesting.  Whatever the case, I warmed up slow by myself about a 9 mile pace for the last mile as I still wasn't feeling good.

  There were hundreds of people inside the stadium on the track and music was playing and the announcer was calling runners to the start.  We started with a 2/3 a loop on the track, run through a couple neighborhoods and through a park then back into the stadium, past the time clock and then a full loop on the track to finish.  I greeted other runners and friends at the starting line as I was worried about my stomach and praying for the best.  I decided that I would stay focused on the runners ahead and only run what I felt i could without getting sick.  It was a night race so i couldn't read my watch and didn't even bother looking at it.  Just wanted to stay behind Doug and keep him in sight.

  After 2 miles I passed Doug, then I passed Ryan and a couple others only the downhill before entering the track.  I told myself that if the clock read sub 15:35 when I ran past it that I had a chance of breaking 17:00 cause I knew I was running fast and was picking off runners one by one the entire race. The clock read low 15s when I entered the stadium.  Not sure exactly what when I passed it but about 15:40 i think.  I just ran hard for the last lap as a runner passed me and then he passed another guy and they ran away from me.  I didn't want anyone else to pass me so I just ran hard to the finish.

  My splits were 5:24 5:25 5:18 then 5:00 for the last 0.17 miles.  It was fun running hard like that but took a lot of determination.  Hope to push myself again like that in the next 3 weeks as I have 3 more 5ks to attempt sub 17:00 again.