NoHo 5K X-country (new PB!) - Tue. August 21

Yes, it was a perfect chance -- cooler evening after a low 70s but slightly muggy day. I warmed up by parking down at the river/marina and running two miles along unpaved roads up to the starting point. There was a bit of a wait there, and I definitely chilled off a bit, which perhaps contributed to the front thigh pull I got on lap one, but the pace was also part of the reason for that. There were two very fast women runners (Kelli and Amber) and none of the usual gaggle of fast young men. So I figured follow the women and stay up near the front. And aim for high 9s for the first two miles, based on my Sunday experience.

Well, the first two miles were certainly fast, though I was not exactly racing -- always thinking of that killer hill and stretch in the last mile. But two sub-5:50s is the best I've ever put together, and so I was feeling good at the start of mile three. Of course it went on too far -- my digivice measured the final distance as 3.25, in fact -- and though I went up the hill well, making ground on the guy ahead, he then pulled it right back after the hill and finished 10 seconds ahead. But, even with a (left) pulled thigh I pushed toward the end, solo as ever, and clocked my best ever 5K time (placing tenth overall in the race). Woot!

Time: 19:36
Distance: 3.1 miles (official)
Speed: 9.51

[note: total distance for the day was this run, plus two miles up and two miles back to my car, for 7.27 miles at a fairly good overall pace]

Comment: while I know this makes no difference for competitive runners, going fast on a hilly course makes me very happy. This is a tough 5K for one that is neither a dedicated climb nor a trail run. So to get my PB on it is very gratifying, and gives me hope for getting lower still in the snowstorms later this year. Colin B. set his own best on this course too -- it made the several runs in awful heat and humidity seem worth while!