Race Report - 2010 Brothers For Life 5K

There's nothing better than racing a 5K the weekend after the toughest trail ultra marathon to date to see if I still have speed. I'm not sure if its the heat, humidity, the ultra running or lack of speed training, but the short distances are kicking my butt this summer. I am pretty sure I am struggling dur to heat and humidity. I dropped off another 10 seconds per mile compared to my last 5 K a few weeks ago. I started the race on target, running the first mile at 6:20 minute per mile pace. While I kept it steady for the second mile with only a slight drop in pace, I really slowed during the final half mile of the race. Not because I absolutely had to but because I was monitoring mt heart rate, which was maxing out with half a mile to go. This was still another training run in my book, all in preparation of my first 100 mile attempt in November at the Pinhoti 100 Endurance Race. You could say I am one of those people that don"t like speed training, so I just sign up for as many local short races as possible to fill in as my speed training replacement. In any case, I ended up feeling pretty good about myself, even though Ilet a guy pass me with just 200 yards to go. That wouldn't be so bad, hadn't they guy finished tenth, leaving me out of the top ten...bummer. Anyway, I finished eleventh out of 250 or so finishers. I keep telling myself that I will get that elusive sub 20 minute finish in the fall, if I just maintain a certain training level through this summer. Tomorrow is rest day. Actually, it will be cross training day as I have a soccer match to play. Monday calls for a 10 mile training run up and down Monte Sano. Should be fun.