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UMass Dash and Dine 5k

April 9, 2016 (Morning)

Exercise Type: Run

Comments:
Race day. Got a great nights sleep and was totally looking forward to the race. Weather was nice as well. Got there early like last time, hoping to find Marco so we could warm up together. It was kinda sparse and I didnt see him, so as it got closer to race time I just went on a warm up alone around the stadium. There was also a softball game, track meet, and some little kid field hockey tournaments getting going, so it was pretty busy around Southwest. I took two loops out there after going back to the start line to check again. Still didnt see him. Got in a quick pit stop about 30 mins before then went over to fit in some striders and some drills before changing shoes. Glad I brought my flats havent worn them in a while, and my shoes got pretty dirty on the warm up. Right before the race it started to get nice and sunny and actually pretty warm, warm enough to strip down and feel ready to race. I headed back up to the start line, feeling nice and loose actually, ready to race. Way way way better than yesterday. As I got up there, I started to see some PSE people. Me Marco Jared and Pat all showed up, and Pat was ready to run well. We still started a little bit too far back. Marco was way out front, and it was all bunched up from there after the gun went off. IDK if it was as many people as last year. They did change the course though, which is kinda BS. I didnt know about it until literally minutes before the gun went off, so I didnt really have time to prepare myself for that. Anyways, Pat and I got stuck behind the masses in the beginning and had to fight our way to the front. We didnt make it into a nice pack until around the Rec Center. New course started the same, but went along Commonwealth, past Conte and then down the road past EHS, popping back to Hagis Mall and then down through the tunnel like before. It actually was a nice course, a little more straight forward, but really shortened the tough hills. Pat and I broke from that pack as we came up the first hill which was the mile marker. My watch said sub 6, which was super legit because it felt so easy. We still stuck together the whole second mile feeling really good. The 2 mile marker was right infront of EHS, and apparently we split 6:10 for that, so I was a little confused with the pace. Legs were starting to feel heavy then, and it was starting to slope downhill which wasnt making them feel much better. Pat pulled ahead but I stayed within reach of him. We were pretty much alone at that point. Hagis Mall was conjeste and we had to run around people, cutting some corners, slowed us down. Then down the downhill Pat kept with me even though I think he looked much smoother. From under the tunnel to kick it in there was a bad head wind last year, but this year it was really nice. At the 3 mile watch read 16:45, which is insane, no way that was right thats about my 5k PR. Still we kicked hard and I overtook Pat and finished right in at 17:36 on my watch. It was funny because the clock read "17:38" and one of the volunteers yelled that out as I passed and I laughed. Legs were feeling it there, but overall pace was easy and consistent and strong. Helped having Pat the whole time I could have easily slowed down and bummed out. I doubt this was actually 5k. Marco had it at 4.7k. My time this year was about 1 minute faster. I think I am in better shape, but not that much better. Marco ran like 15 flat which is pretty insane for a road course. Anyways it was a strong race, showing that I am in decent shape and the runs have kept up. Also great considering how miserable I felt yesterday. No prizes, but I got 13th overall and the lunch at Hampshire afterwards was legit. Marco and I did a little cool down afterwards.

Essentials: Stretch

Did a little bit of stretching but nothing too serious. Legs felt so tired and then had that post race lock up. We went to eat anyways so naturally we tightened up. Solid day for racing and a pretty successful race. Went by so so fast, especially compared to the 10 miler. Makes you appreciate the race of the longer distances. This feels like a quick sprint now. Keep the time in mind but I think its skewed closer to just 3 miles, which is still sub 6 pace which I was working towards.