Snowstorm 5K -- Sat. Dec. 11

Starting the Snowstorm season a bit uncertainly -- another long long week and not a chance to get out after last Sunday. Still, a light dusting of snow on Friday night made the whole thing more appealing, and I headed out around 8:30 (having slept through an alarm, so about 30 mins behind schedule). Arrived and paid up, but then already time to start, so no warm up: decide to start slowly and see how it feels. Ivan's there at the start too, but line up a bit behind him, in a crowd of more than 100 runners. Off up the hill and take the first lap of the playing fields steady, with 6:42 first mile. Inspired by young Beaver lad (9 yr old phenom!) to go with small strides, rapid turnover, to avoid over stretching in my unwarmed up state. Second mile start to move up a bit, turning in a 6:05, and finding Scott R ahead. Keep plugging for mile three: surprised by a 5:41 pace, and the last 0.17 is much slower as I fail to catch the young lad ahead and just cruise in. Come in 5th, with a solid time:

Time: 19:37 (19:35 gps)
Distance: 3.1 miles (3.17 gps)
Pace: 6:20

Comment: jog a bit till Ivan appears, then walk with him and chat briefly, before heading out for cooldown/extra miles. Goal for day was 12.5, so do a couple of loops of the first part of the 10K course, stopping after lap one to grab bag and gear from Skate House lest it be locked in there. Add exactly 10 miles, which because I'm already loose are a bit faster than a slow run, giving

13.17 miles @ 1:34:54, averaging 7:12s.

A good day's work