Tarheel Realty 5k

About the race: This race is a local race in Iredell County, NC. it was put together to benefit the local school system. 50% of all money goes to the school with the most participants registered. 30% to the 2nd and 20% to 3rd. A good cause in general, but even better when you consider CB is a teacher at one of those schools.

Night before the race: In the future remind me not to start googling race strategy the night before a race, good way to psych myself out.

Pre-race: Up with time to spare, quick shower, half a bagel with peanut butter and honey, and dressed in time to leave and put in a mile or so warm up. Instead of a leaving I sat for another 25 minutes and waited on CB to get ready. Her and a group of teachers were walking the race. Once we were there I went for a quick jog and got to the line up 2 minuted before the start.

RACE TIME

Mile 1: Started out strong. A few minutes in I was passing a group of girls when one looked to the other and said "you have the fancy watch, whats our pace?" The one with the watch looked at her friend and said "7:33, we need to slow down, majorly". I needed to do the same. I slowed down to about an 8:37 mile (still faster than my plan). My fasted mile ever.

Mile 2: Took the first hill. Made it to the turn around and aid station, took one sip of water, but I didn't want to slow down so I splashed the rest on myself. 8:29. My fastest mile ever!  During this time I found an older guy with a nice pace and stuck to his back.

Mile 3+: Started out solid, but toward the middle I felt myself slipping. I watched my pace and that guy and pushed to keep up. Had to dig deep on the the next to last hill. My plan was to sprint the last .25 but I didn't have it in me. I decided to keep my pace and just finish. There was a girl who had stuck to my shoulder for the last mile and at about 50m there was a crowd of finishers that had started yelling for her to sprint it in. When she took off so did I. Finished this lap in 8:26. New fastest mile ever!

Post Race: I got done with a heart rate of over 195 and as soon as I started walking to cool down the dry heaving started. I know I pushed hard when I yack. Luckily I had burned off my fuel so there was nothing to yack. Cooled down and walked back to support others. Mom in law finished in 39:46. CB and friends in 44:55 and lil sis in law Gracie just before that. When it was all said and done, I had a lot of thoughts about how to do things better and how I did but I am going to just let them go and be happy with how I did.

AND A GOOD TIME WAS HAD BY ALL.

Oh wait, do you want to know how I did?





My goal for 2010 was to complete a 5k race in under 30 minutes. My first ever 5k in January was 33+.





Even though this was my official goal, the goal I secretly was hoping to get was sub 28:00.





WHAT WAS MY TIME?

26:40

AND A SURPRISE



SECOND PLACE IN THE MALE 25-29 AGE GROUP!!! THAT'S NOT JUST A FINISHER MEDAL!

THAT'S A PODIUM SPOT, RIGHT!!!

AND GRACE ALSO GOT SECOND IN FEMALES UNDER 10!!!

HEY PATRICK, WHAT'S THE SOUND YOU MAKE FOR NEW PR'S AND HIGH POINTS?