Town Center Classic 5K

15:18, 4th Overall

2-11-2006; Boca Raton, Florida (7:30AM)
SPLITS- 4:56, 9:49 (4:52), 14:48 (4:58), :30

* Jeez... alright, an okay run. I figured that I would not be recovered in time for this race, but with Boston on the horizon, my focus has shifted to my training and not my racing. Put in 98 miles before this race, with a 24-miler on Monday and a solid track workout on Thursday (PM), that contributed to my mediocre performance. I just had nothing today. Went out steady and was working harder than I was on Thursday when I was running 4:50-pace like a jog, but made good contact with the leaders at 1.5 miles, then, probably my biggest mistake of the race, I took the lead soon after and that set the lead pack into high gear. Mike Korir (2nd, 14:59) did most of the work and just towed eventual winner, Ryan Woods (14:49) to victory. I wasn't able to hang with Holassie (3rd, 15:05), as my 4:58 mile was too much of a deceleration for them to break away.

On a positive note, I was pleased with my consistent mile splits, which for me, means that I am getting much stronger. I averaged 4:56 and my miles varied only by :06 seconds. When I am more in 5K shape than in Marathon shape, I might see closer to :10+ second differentials, including a much faster opening mile. But the goal is Boston, and this week was a step in the right direction, considering I worked 36 hours in 3 days this week thanks to our Softball tournament.

However, I always happen to run the "first loser", as the top 3 paid out big today: $600, $300, $150. I thought at least one good runner would show, as there was a competing money race in St. Petersburg, but with Ryan Woods, Mike Korir, and Ronnie Holassie showing up, it just shows the gaining strength of South Florida racing. I did, however, earn $50 for my 25-29 age group victory, and coupled with Perla's $25 for her 2nd place 25-29 finish in 20:27, we made a $25 profit on the day- which our financial advisor, Chad, should be proud of our money-spending ways. Heck, I was trying to turn $50 into $600 for 15-minutes of work. Only in America.