I still want to call this the Ghostmuster. In honor I wear my 2002 T-shirt. Mike Henderson agrees that if a race changes name and RD, but is the same course on the same weekend, it is the same race. So I can say that it is my tenth time here.
Cool and foggy on the way in, but the sun is now out in Tenino. Despite a not great 1.5 mile warm up (just don't feel that smooth) I am optimistic that I can beat last years time and also my time from my last 5K three weeks ago. Generally still feeling good and improving, though no decent long runs lately.
Start - Small group again. This should be a bigger event, like it used to be. But some fast guys and kids here so I know that I won't be near the top. We start well with plenty of room to spread out and hit our paces.
Mile 0.3 - I am just behind the first place woman. 6:47 pace is way too fast and I ease back a little. But keep the woman and another guy close enough that I can think about passing them.
Mile 1 - Through the quiet streets. Same old course but I like it. A few guys turn off for the 10K but quite a few ahead of me. First woman still just ahead, though I am not gaining. 7:18 mile one is too fast but not much I can do about it at this point.
Mile 2.2 - No one has passed me, but I also have not caught anyone. Woman is slipping away as I slow just a little. Feeling good, just out of breath. Glad I did not run yesterday, though I wonder if it would have made any difference. Around the field, I do pass one guy, then the long straight shot.
Mile 2.9 - Almost to the turn. The kids in costume are doing their fun run and don't quite get in the way. Sprint hard to the end
Mile 3.1 Finish - 3.14 on the GPS. Happy with a solid effort and I did make my goals of beating last year's time and the Shuck and Run time. Congratulate the woman, who admits that it is her first race ever. Hope she is hooked now. I have things to do, so I do not stay for the results or awards. Results posted online later in the day. Next up, a couple of marathons.
23:18
9th place of 36
Race#428, 5K#113, Ghostmuster/Pumpkin Dash#10
*****
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Sunday, October 8, 2017
10/8/17 Shuck and Share 5K
Back here after a few years away. Now it is a local race, since we just moved to Hood Canal full time! Actually in the middle of moving, it was tough to find decent clothes to wear but we made it work. Cold for the 8AM start, but dry. $25 entry includes a nice pair of running socks, chip timed, free entry to Oysterfest and all of the promo items that the PUD#3 could not give away recently. Plastic cup, Seahawks schedule on a magnet, clip thing, blinking safety light, tiny paper pad shaped like a light bulb, pen and many more things that we really don't know what to do with, especially this week. Chipped timed by the other Fritz. Great organization, raffles, timing, course, volunteers. This all more than makes up for the Sunday race (not my preference) and the Active dot com registration.
Start - mile and a half warm up and I feel ready to go. See a few friends at the start, but then we are off. Lots of kids here, so many bunched up at the start line. I stay back and hope to pick off many of them as the race progresses.
Mile 0.2 - First kid is walking, another is veering left to right. Since we have a whole lane blocked off with cones, plus the shoulder, there is plenty of room to run and pass.
Mile 1.0 - 7:33 - Feeling really good and passing people gradually. The long flat straight stretch is really nice.
Mile 1.5 - Now the turn and the short ups and downs. Pace slows but no one passes me.
Mile 2.0 - Gaining on a young man, but watching a kid farther ahead who keeps looking back. We are gradually catching him. I pass the man and suggest that we can both pass this kid who keeps turning around. This gives me the incentive to keep at it, plus the course if flatter here. Push really hard and get closer to the kid, but he turns it on at the end and it is never close.
Mile 3.1 - Finish (3.07 on the GPS). No pains or issues of any kind and I have been a long while now without any nagging injury. Sixteen seconds slower than two years ago, but my fastest 5K in a year and a half. Cheer on Jody and the others.
Love the quick print out of results. Jody wins some Tupperware in the raffle which will roll around in the trunk of my car until the move is complete. She is happy with her time and we are back home before 9:30. Nice way to start the day.
23:27
16th place of 136
Race#427, 5K#112
*****
Start - mile and a half warm up and I feel ready to go. See a few friends at the start, but then we are off. Lots of kids here, so many bunched up at the start line. I stay back and hope to pick off many of them as the race progresses.
Mile 0.2 - First kid is walking, another is veering left to right. Since we have a whole lane blocked off with cones, plus the shoulder, there is plenty of room to run and pass.
Mile 1.0 - 7:33 - Feeling really good and passing people gradually. The long flat straight stretch is really nice.
Mile 1.5 - Now the turn and the short ups and downs. Pace slows but no one passes me.
Mile 2.0 - Gaining on a young man, but watching a kid farther ahead who keeps looking back. We are gradually catching him. I pass the man and suggest that we can both pass this kid who keeps turning around. This gives me the incentive to keep at it, plus the course if flatter here. Push really hard and get closer to the kid, but he turns it on at the end and it is never close.
Mile 3.1 - Finish (3.07 on the GPS). No pains or issues of any kind and I have been a long while now without any nagging injury. Sixteen seconds slower than two years ago, but my fastest 5K in a year and a half. Cheer on Jody and the others.
Love the quick print out of results. Jody wins some Tupperware in the raffle which will roll around in the trunk of my car until the move is complete. She is happy with her time and we are back home before 9:30. Nice way to start the day.
23:27
16th place of 136
Race#427, 5K#112
*****
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