7/22/17 WA State Senior Games 5K

 


Second time here.  This year we are at North Thurston High School so it is very close to home.  Sign up the day of and it is $42 with shirt.  I could enter more track and field events for only $9 each, but the 5K is enough for today.

Marathon last Saturday. After that my "Summer Sniffles" got worse.  Also lack of sleep with kids here.  Monday I had to get up at 3:45 to get them to the airport.  Monday I was so tired but as the week progressed I felt better.  Very easy running T-Th with a day off yesterday.

1.5 mile warm up.  Fun to start on the track.  Race is so small but there are lots of other events here so it is a busy place.  Saw an old guy struggle to get out of his car, then saw the can of Red Bull in his hand.  Chip timed by Terry again.  Small tag is pinned to my shorts at the left hip.  Guy asks me if that is my good hip.

Start - Start on the track.  I get behind Tim Oguri.  Either he or Pat will win.  No need to stress about possibly winning.  We start with the 10K and right away there are a bunch of people in front of me.

Mile 0.5 - Out the stadium, through the parking lot, along the road and police escort across Slater Kinney.  Now a longer straight bit.  Three guys way ahead, then one woman who I will not catch.  One guy closer and I slowly reel him in.

Mile 1 - Along Martin Way and now onto the Chehalis Western Trail.  Ron Volunteering.  Rachel sighting, she says that if I can talk I am not running fast enough.  It is hard to focus on the pace, but I feel OK.  Fun to be along the same course as last week.  Then it was mile 19 and a lot easier pace.  See two of the guys come back, one is going on for the 10K course.  Turn around and I take a quick cup of water.  The guy that I passed is not far behind, good incentive to keep working.

Mile 2 - Sad to leave the cool shade and return to the much hotter roads.  Just after mile 2 marker I see the 90 year old man finishing his first mile.  Doing great!  He will finish looking strong and well under an hour.

Mile 2.5 - Trying to focus.  Legs are sore from last week.  Getting really hot.  But my place is secure.  Once I hit the track I sprint to the finish.

Mile 3.1 - 3.09 on the GPS.  I am happy enough with my finish time.  Being the only one in my age group I get to stand on the podium and have a gold medal draped around my neck.


 



Fun event.  More folks should do it.

24:13
4th of 15, 1st in age group
Race #423, 5K#110
*****