Lou Gehrig's Disease 10K

Perla, Madelyn, and I with the Garrity Family

32:25, 1st Place Overall

1-21-2006, 7:30 AM- Coral Gables, FL; 80-degrees/Windy

Splits- 4:52, 10:00 (5:08), 15:12 (5:12), 20:43 (5:31), 26:23 (5:39), 6:02

* Interesting race. I decided just to go out and see what I would run since it was so windy, I threw the time out the window and figured to run about a 32-minute 10K. Surprised that I went through the mile in 4:52, but I kept my rhythm and tried to keep the pace, but I didn't want to struggle. By Mile 4, the opening mile started sinking in and I started struggling a little with tightness in my left hamstring/leg, so I shut it down a little bit, but not to the point of 5:30-miles, as I feel the mile markers might have been off since I don't think I closed in a 5:00 final mile... perhaps closer to 5:15 or so.

Anyway, it was a fun race for a great cause. I got to see my boss (Mike Garrity) and his wife out at the race, which was great. He is, as we say in Cuban, buena gente, a phenomenal human being who has allowed me to really gain experience in event management, and one whom will mentor me in my career and make me who I am in my field of study. His wife's father passed away to ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, a progressive neurodegenerative disease, and it was great to see them out there. It was also great to see the FIU guys out there, as Egon Vollmer won the 5K and Jose Castro placed 2nd in the 10K.

Otherwise, I was a bit disappointed in my effort. "Tempo" efforts are not feeling comfortable after three miles, and I need to work on that. I understand I definitely went out too fast, but now I've learned to pace it a bit better. I think for the ING Miami Half Marathon, I will aim for 5:10-5:15 miles early on and if I feel great after 10K, I'll put down the hammer. A fun day, especially with Madelyn's "balloon" and then later than night she was a cheerleader for the FIU basketball games. Perla place 2nd overall with her 43:11 effort, as well.