This is my 2nd time at this race.  Last year, this race was a PR for me. Here I am:

 However since then I’ve lowered my PR.(to 28:42) My last race was here in Saratoga and I didn’t PR so I decided not to get my hopes up.

I planned to meet Mary at this race.  She is training for a half marathon but still wants to finish a 5k under 30 minutes.

One good thing about this race is that the Fasig-Tipton Pavillion (where people come bid on and  buy horses) is open,  There’s an art exhibit and REAL bathrooms.

The weather was absolutely perfect – 60’s and sunny.  There were only about 300 racers because this race conflicts with 3 other races.

The  race starts at the same spot as the Silks and Satins but has a completely different course. I ran into Mary right away.  She wanted me to be her pacer so she could finish under 30 minutes.  Imagine, someone thinking I run fast!!!

I like to start at the starting line but Mary wanted to start in the back.  We compromised and moved to the middle.

I should mention that tennis has taken over my life and I haven’t run since Tuesday when I only ran 3 miles.  So I definitely was rested but was I in shape to run fast???

I took off fast and Mary said she would follow me.  I felt like I had so much energy.  The course does have a long uphill road during the 2nd mile and when you think it’s over, you turn the corner, and you have a steeper hill.  At that point, there’s a water stop.  I stopped but it was difficult to get going again.

Mary caught up to me at the end of the 2nd mile but I still felt strong and she was losing steam.

At the 3 mile mark is when I felt tired. .1 miles seemed endless.  I thought still that I had run a good race until I saw 29 minutes in the distance.  I sped up because there was no way I was going to finish in over 30 minutes!!!

My official time was 29:51.

A first: I ran a race slower than the previous year!!!!

Mary finished in 30:03!! This was her fastest race but she was disappointed that she didn’t finish in under 30 minutes.  I said that next time, we have to start at the front!!!

She was so thankful that I was her pacer.  She called me her HERO and hugged me!!!

It made me forget my disappointment in not PRing!!

Stats:
Time -29:51
Pace – 9:37/mi
Finish 193/266 (8/11 in 50-59 age group, 2/3 in 55-59 age group)

They gave out awards to the top 3 in 10 year age groups (not 5) – DARN!! (I forgot my camera but pics are posted here)

Another busy week is coming up and another 5K next Saturday!

Happy Running and have a nice weekend!