Jack Kerouac 5k Race Report

There isn't a lot to talk about during a 5k...so here are the splits according to my watch:

Mile 1: 5:58
Mile 2: 6:11
Mile 3: 5:53
.14M: 0:41
Total: 18:43

Official Results: Cool Running
Video: Level Renner
Pictures: Jim Rhoades, KrissyK, CSU Facebook Page

I started a bit further back than I would've liked for the race. The race director said numerous times that if you aren't a fast runner, you should continue moving to the back of the pack. Nonetheless, I still had a father and his two little kids standing right next to me at the starting line. I should've taken that as a sign and moved up a good 10 feet...During the first half mile or so while the crowd was sorting itself out, I got stuck behind a row of people twice and had to do far more weaving than I would've liked., but after getting through that mess, I was able to settle into a decent rhythm.

After hitting mile 1 at about goal pace, I was pretty happy, but I ended up losing focus. I thought I was holding pace since I was passing people, but it was really just the crowd of people who started too close to the front coming back to me. So after trying to run based on effort, I looked at my watch at ~1 3/4 miles, and saw that I was running in the 6:20's. That was frustrating. I picked up the pace, but at that point my goal was cooked for the day.

After that first half mile or so, I wasn't passed by a single runner (this is NOT a testament to my abilities). But at around 2 3/4 miles someone from the Somerville Road Runners tried to pass me:

Photo Credit: Kristi Cabot

I started to pick up the pace just a bit to make sure I stayed ahead of him, and he stayed right on my back shoulder up until close to the final turn towards the finish line. At that point I was able to open it up a bit and finish comfortably ahead of him (around the 12:02 mark of the video).



In the end, I set a PR by 17 seconds, but that second mile sticks out a like a sore stupid unfocused and inexperienced thumb.