Social Snowstorm 10K -- Sat. January 5, 2008

So, my first run of the year and a race to boot. Head and neck feeling better enough to run, at least, and Ivan said he'd be there, so headed to Forest Park and got there in time for a bit of a warm up. Milder day, lots of snow still on the ground, so there was the dryish sluch to run through -- made for heavy going in lots of parts. There was a good turnout (111 people, evidently) and I took the first mile gently, then tried to keep up with Steve ONeill, who was being dogged by a highschooler the whole way. I got to observe the struggle, though I just couldn't catch them. In the end the kid made up a big lead and pipped the 56 y.o. at the post--really good racing. I struggled in mile 4, as usual, and didn't go flat out at any point--had plenty left at the end, though no speed to spare. Somehow I ran a really LONG race, 6.5 miles according to the GPS. Not quite sure how, but maybe running on the road instead of the sidewalks?

Time: 43:09
Distance: "10k / 6.2 miles" (6.5 by GPS)
Speed: 9 mph

Comments: not a very good time, given the racing, but I'm happy with the placing (came in tenth) and will just have to build from here. And hope my back gets better too. . .