<p>A month and a half ago, <a href=”http://www.iammike.org/index.php?misc=search&amp;subaction=showfull&amp;id=1191972051&amp;archive=&amp;cnshow=news&amp;ucat=2&amp;start_from=” target=”_self”>I began training again</a>, but this time for a 5k (3.1 miles). Today was the day, <a href=”http://www.runwashington.com/other/varunturkeytrotinfo.html” target=”_blank”>Virginia Run Turkey Trot</a> was the race, and despite being up all night two nights ago with a 100+ degree fever, I was going for it.<br/><br/>The weather was perfect; hovering right around 60 degress prerace. Saw some faces from the past, some faces from the present, got my butt grabbed by my good friend Naigle, who was in town for the holiday FROM BAGDHAD… He heads back tomorrow <img src=”http://www.iammike.org/cutenews/data/emoticons/crook.gif”/> I warmed up with him, shimmied my way up toward the front of the pack, and waited… and waited. I think the race started a few minutes late or my watch is a few minutes off. Based on the fact that the display goes blank due to a low battery (and has for months now) whenever I hit a button, I won’t hold the race organizers at fault.<br/><br/>The start… I’m always amazed by the number of people who line up near the front, but are slow. It’s not funny people, it doesn’t get you a faster time, it sucks. DON’T DO IT! <br/><br/>My first mile was a bit slower than I had hoped, but I’ll blame that entirely on the slow people; there was a lot of side to side movement, which wastes time. I came through that first mile with my watch showing 6:32, but I had accidentally started it a couple seconds early since they had two timing mats and I think the 2nd one was the actual one, but I had pressed “Start” at the first. For my goal, sub-20, I needed to average 6:26. I was a little slow, but I knew I had pretty good endurance and I wouldn’t be dealing with traffic the entire way.<br/><br/>Mile two comes around and my split is 6:37. Eek! How did that happen? Bad Michael! I felt great, knew I had a ton left, and began to pour it on.<br/><br/>Mile three was unmarked, which was kind of a bummer. I’d have liked to have known what I was at there so I would have an idea just how hard I had to kick it in. As it turns out, I didn’t kick too hard, but if I had, my goal would have easily been mine.<br/><br/>I crossed the finish line with my watch showing 20:02, with a 6:52 for the final 1.1 miles (6:14 pace).<br/><br/>Soooo I’m a bit dissappointed since I really wanted my watch to show 19:xx, but since I started it too early, I very well may officially be under the mark I aimed at. Regardless, I pretty much got where I wanted to be despite having crap sleep on the most important sleeping night prerace (two nights before), being slowed up by traffic, and having a good amount left in the tank. If the official results don’t show a 19:59, look for another postrace blog entry [from another race] within the next two weeks.</p> <p><strong>Update</strong><br/>Bummer, <a href=”http://www.doitsports.com/newresults3/client/188548_220369_2007.htm” target=”_blank”>20:03</a>. I may actually look at running another race this weekend. I can drop those three seconds with ease.</p><p><span style=”font-weight: bold;”>Update #2<br/><span style=”font-weight: bold;”></span></span>Just signed up for the <a href=”http://www.pgrc.org/races/wright_stuff.html” target=”_blank”>Greenbelt Wright Stuff 5k</a>, which takes place next Saturday. My only worry here  is it looks like I might be in the top 5… Not sure I’m ready from a mental (running maturity) standpoint to see 1st place, but keep my cool OR to potentially have nobody around me. Oh well, we’ll see.<span style=”font-weight: bold;”></span></p>