first race

on a semi humid warm saturday morning, i woke up at 530 to get ready to run. i got a quick shower and headed downstairs to get some bread and peanut butter to eat. i got on the bus and began to go into extreme focus mode. i was not expected much out of the race considering my time out, but i still thought i should do fairly well. these situations are very difficult to prepare mentally for. for an hour or so i will sit there knowing that my body is about to experience a physical and mental hell. getting in a couple of miles to warm up and a few strides to get the heart pumping good, i stepped to the starting line.

the gun fired and i took off with the rest of the pack. my first mile was a little faster than i expected (5:28). because of the new and longer 5 mile distance i tried to go out in 5:35. the first 3 miles were not bad at all. but even then, at 17:30, i knew i had a good ways to go. the fourth mile was grouling, with sharp turns and intense sand piles. nearing the end, i began to be in a close race with a runner from uwf. i thought about all those times i was on the track and ran miles in four and a half minutes. i then tried to recreate that with a final surge. i broke away from him and beat him, however i let many people beat me.

as a whole the race was about a 7 out of 10. my time of 29:39 was somewhat acceptable, considering my lack of training. after i finished, i went through the usual hour or so without talking to anyone so i could regain the world of normal mentality. i quickly let it go and began my focus for oct 4. auburn.