Bring Da Ruckus...!

Apparently if I listen to nothing but Wu-Tang for 48 straight hours, it makes me faster.  I'm officially sub18 in the 5k (17:58) and it feels daaaaaaamn good!

Saturday I finally broke 18:00 in the 5k, something I really hadnt dreamed of until recently.  The idea first popped into my head when I set my previous PR in June (18:39) and wondered what it might take to drop it under 18.  The answer... it takes mileage, and a lot of work. 

Woke up real early around 5am, as the race was at 7:45am in Old Orchard (about an hour away).  Packed my race bag, grabbed some coffee and I was on my way.  I love driving on the Interstate in Maine early in the morning with NOBODY on the road... but to everyone that I happened to pass, sorry I was blasting Wu-Tang at top volume, I'm not that gangsta.

Rolled into OOB around 7am, plenty of time to chill out, and get ready.  Found my friend Travis who was going for his own PR (sub 17) and we did a nice 2 mile w/u.  I very much enjoy warming up with someone, I've found that when I w/u alone I get myself extremely nervous... but when I've got a friend with me, I relax and joke... something to rememeber.   Had about 5min. when I got to the start to do some striders and loosen up further...  felt great.

Lined up about 3 people deep as I noticed some fast dudes there, I didnt want to be in their way, plus starting back a bit helps me not go out too fast... 

Mile 1 - 5:38
Thought I was holding back a bit, but this was the fastest mile I ran.  After about a quarter mile of flat, the course turns up an uphill, then a 360* turn around a cone to FLY back down the hill.  Was very happy to hit the mile mark under 5:40

Mile 2 - 5:50
This is always my crappiest mile in a 5k, I suck at mile 2.  My strategy was to catch this other dude I know that was up ahead, he beat me by 30+ seconds in a 4 mile race a few weeks ago, figured if I paced off him, he'd get me to a sub18..well I caught him and we ran together for nearly the whole mile (until he fell back)

Mile 3 - 5:49
A lot of mind games in this mile, I realized if I just shut the fuck up and run, I can get it done... (this mile hurt)

Mile .1 - :39 seconds
Seeing the clock around 17:15 up ahead, I knew I had it.. so my stupid legs decided to start JOGGING it in, my brain the yelled at my legs for being stupid... so I had picked it up a bit to make damn sure it was sub 18... I think probabaly gone 17:49 if I manned up, but hey... gotta leave some time for my next PR!

Overall, a great race. My friend Trav ran a 16:50, and we cooled down by running the race course again (nice and easy).  I ended up with 3rd place AG, and some more hardware to hang in Abrahm's nursery.

I am in LOVE with my Saucony GridType A4 racing flats, beware... these are fast!

Looking forward.... I'm 99% sure this was my last race until the Maine Marathon Oct. 3rd, until then...

Three(point one)'s A Party!

5k's are kinda like punk rock songs... fast, sloppy, they kinda suck, but are fun as hell!
(Andrew, this one's for you)



Mile 1 6:04.17
Went out a bit fast, the lead dude was cruising and I stayed with him for .25 mile, then I realized I was running a 5:10 split and backed off.... oops.


Mile 2 6:04.39
I'm in 3rd place, running comfortable.  Around mile 1.5 we hit the turnaround spot (an orange cone) I really hate out/back courses, especially 5ks because you have to completely stop and start again!

Mile 3 6:05.66
This mile was hard because I was running past all of the other racers on the out/back course, which is narrow as is... add a hundred people in my way and I was hugging the rail.  Probabaly could have turned it on a later faster but I was just having fun, I wasnt even looking at the Garmin here..

Mile .10 Mi 0:29.38
I see the 2nd place dude finish up ahead, and the glare is so bad I cant read the clock... I for sure would have sprinted through if I saw it to get a sub18:40, but when I heard the timer yell 18:41 I was stoked... 

Garmin - 18:43.60 Official - 18:41 (PR)
Stopped Garmin a bit late, but new I had a PR either way.  I ran an 18:44 in 2000, as a 20 year old college kid who was in love with running... I fell out of love for about 8 years as I tasted other aspects of life, but to know that I'm 30 now, married to the most beautiful woman in the world, with a baby on the way this Fall, and a new found respect/obsession with running...  I can't wait to get faster!

Ended second recovery week with just over 23 miles, and felt good about it.  Looking forward to a 30+ week right now, and then start 17 week prep towards the Maine Marathon and my attempt at BQ!!