I didn't have a goal time or anything like that heading into this race. I was just going to try and go as fast as I could. As we got underway it was SO CROWDED. I was mixed in with a bunch of walkers so it was nearly impossible to run in a straight line. It was slushy on the sides of the road so most everyone was in the middle making it even more crowded.
Since this was an out and back race, as the lead runners came back we had to all move to the right hand side of the road which didn't help matters much. So the second mile was really tough being squeezed in. Then after the last of the walkers went by the whole road was opened up again.
I was doing a run/walk, but not a specific time. I was looking at my watch and keeping an eye on my HR. I would run with it in the 170's for a bit and then walk until it was back into the 150's and then start running again. My pace was all over the place because of the crowds.
With about 1/3 of a mile to go, I was going to throw one last short walk segment in before I ran the last bit to the finish, but my friend Amy saw me and paced me through to the finish line. That gave me my fastest 400m time ever and also a new max HR record.
Overall time was 29:29. My last open 5k race that I ran, that I can find a record of was 15 years ago and I did it in 31:33. I have gone faster for a 5k both in training, and during my first sprint triathlon. I probably would have gone faster if the crowds were less.
So overall 742/2112, 393/792 men, and 31/69 in my age group. Solid middle of the pack which is what I expect.
It was fun, I didn't get injured, legs felt good, and then we went home to eat turkey, watch the Macy's parade on TV, and have a glass of wine.
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