Saturday, September 08, 2012

Ran a 5k this morning

Jane and I ran in the Ossian 5k this morning. It was a beautiful morning for it too. It was like 60f when we started, so we both wore long sleeves. However we wished we had taken them off and worn short sleeves by the time we were done. It was also a bit cloudy, but the sun was peeking out from time to time. A near-perfect late summer day.

We left home about 7:45 and got there around 8 am. We had pre-registered so we just needed to pick up our packet, pin our numbers on our shirts, and wait around for the 8:30 start. We walked a bit and chatted with a few people we knew. Ray, from the bank, was running also. Molly, from church, was running with her two kids in a stroller. We also knew a couple of other runners, and Kody and Ashley (church) were helping with the race.

The course started by the baseball diamond behind the elementary school, then we went around the far side of the walking track and took a left when we got to the road. There was a turn-around point and we came back and took the near side of the track back to the finish line. It was a nice course, and exactly 3.1 miles.

I ran with Jane because she wanted to make sure she did it in under 30 minutes. I have a setting on my watch to keep pace, so we tooled along most of the time between 8 1/2 and 9 minute miles. We finished in 28:31. Jane got third in her age-group (40-49). She actually would have gotten second in the 20-29 age-group.  Molly won her age-group (30-39).

I felt really good running. For me the key is to not start too fast. I felt pretty strong the entire race, and never did really breathe too hard. That was just what I wanted to do, so I was happy.

After that we went out to the church for a bit, chatted with a friend, then went to lunch/breakfast at noon. Now we need to shower, maybe squeeze in a nap, walk in the Ossian Days parade for the bank, then get some supplies for the church breakfast in the morning and go out to the church and set things up. Should be a nice day.

I like this time of year.

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