Get Your Rear In Gear 5k

Time: 16:16
Position: 1
Assessment: Adequate

So I had a decent enough run on Saturday. My main goal was to win and I achieved that. I would like to have been a bit faster (seeing as I hope to go faster than that pace for a 10k in less than a month!) but as I ran the race on my own and the second mile was very tough I need to put the time in perspective.

The day started with Lisa dropping me off three miles from the start line so I could warm up while she went ahead and parked. The girls were both running in the Fun Run so I was able to watch that before my race. A few strides and mutual good lucks with Aaron and we were off. Having scoped the start line for any other potential rivals and not seen any that I knew, I soon locked in side by side with Aaron. Up front, my new friend from Friday lunches at the Burger Company and fellow non-American, Bjorn 'Storming' Norman, had taken it out at a very rapid rate.

We turned on to 4th which was a long downhill and soon pulled alongside Bjorn. I had been expecting Aaron to go tearing off down this hill with me hanging on for dear life but I actually found myself pulling away from Aaron, early signs that maybe he wasn't going to have one of his better days.

After about half a mile of this downhill we turned on to Kings and began the long climb that would take us through the best part of mile 2. My Garmin beeped at 4:56 at the mile mark which was fast but not unexpected when considering the course layout. I passed Caitlin who was out watching and taking pics and continued grinding up the hill, happy in the knowledge that once this was out of the way it was a pretty flat run in to the finish.



I passed Thomas on the bridge back over Independence and hit the second mile in 5:26 (!). Thomas had said that I had about a 60 yard gap so I just kept up a hard pace during the third mile pretty safe in the knowledge that the victory was mine unless I fell apart. After a third mile of 5:16 and a 38 second sprint down into the finish area, I crossed the line in 16:16. Aaron followed 26 seconds behind. We quickly shook hands before he headed straight off a la Spada to Mcalpine where he was due to do a workout with one of his runners! Bjorn easily clung on for third place and was very happy with his time. I chatted briefly with Theoden and a few other guys I knew and waited for the awards ceremony. I was invited on stage to receive mine which was a free pair of shoes from Omega Sports (I picked up a sweet pair of Brooks Defyance today).

I had decided I would run home from the race to make it 14 for the day and mean I only need do 5 today to meet my mileage goal for this 'down' week so with pretty sore legs I headed home and it was actually a pretty decent run.

Later on that evening I made the most of a rare 'Hall Pass' and met up with a bunch of guys at Taco Mac for beers, wings and nachos- diet of champions! Aaron bought me the Guinness he owed me after the race and a good time was had by all, especially my Tarheel fan friends!

Today I enjoyed a much needed lie in before watching a dreadful performance from Man U against Liverpool. It was raining heavily outside and was one of those days you just wanted to stay in, so we did! At about 1pm I decided to head out for my quick run. Got drenched but legs felt okay and ready to hit another 75 mile week this week...