I ran a 5k for the first time in nearly 20 years this morning, at the Polar Bear 5k in Wash Park. It's been about 2 1/2 years since I've run a race of any distance, and that one was a little longer. So I wasn't sure what to expect.
Well, it was kinda fun. Went out the first half mile in second place, behind one guy who went way off the front. He ended up winning in 16:30-something. Then, a pack of four dudes and one chick passed me before we got to mile 1. At first I thought they were gone, but then I kinda hung on off the back of the pack, and by mile 2, I was able to catch the chick. About a quarter of a mile later, I passed three more dudes with something that resembled a surge. I made half an effort to catch the guy who was in second, but by this time, my lungs were burning something fierce.
Turned the last corner, saw low-18s on the clock, and then did my best attempt at a sprint. It wasn't good enough, as I was out-kicked at the line by some punk 19-year-old kid. (Not really. He was actually very nice.)
Anyhow, 18:31. 4th overall. Good times.
Have the goal of getting down into low-17s and maybe high 16s by year end. Seems kinda ambitious, but I know a guy who knows a thing about speed, and he's already crushing it as a coach (one of his athletes got 2nd at the half-marathon championships in Houston today). He thinks I can do it in three months, no problem. I'm not sure he knows what it's like to be a normal person.
Might do another race or two in the next month. Getting married mid-February, so probably gonna take a month off then. Looking to get back at it full-on come March.
