Race Report - 2010 HTC Twilight 5K

I tried to take a napan hour before the race, but it didn't work. I got to the race start 20 minutes before the official start and did some warm-up laps and stretches. I was immediately soaked in sweat. So much for needing to warm up. With the race start at 6:30PM, it provided another first. All of my races had started in the AM until this point. I don't think it made any difference in the temp and humidity levels. It wasn't really hot, but the humidity was kickin' as usual. Anyway, I lined up in the third row. The field looked pretty strong with a bunch of the Fleet Feet Racing Team members toeing the the starting line in the first row. I was going toshoot for my magical sub 20 minute finish time...again. And I crashed....again. The humidity is just taking the steam right out of me during the race. I also made the mistake to try to stick with a runner,who supposedly targeted a 6:30 per mile pace. Well, he must have changed his mind.I kept my eyes off my Garmin Forerunner and instead focussed on the other runner and keeping up with him.When I received my first mile split, I about fell over. Sub 6 minute pace, way too fast for me. I backed off a little, but it was too late. My second mile split was 12:45 and I was still on track, but dropping off fast. With a little hill to come in the final mile and already maxing out my heart rate with still one mile to go, I decided to slow ever so slightly as I ran up said hill. Well, apparently I slowed too much. While I picked upthe pace on the final half mile, I was very dissappointed when I heard my final 3 mile split, 19:56 or something like that. I knew it was over but continued to push to keep it close. Final time: 20:36, almost 30 seconds slower than my PR from this past fall,but stillgood enough for 25th overall in the men's division and 3rd in my age group. Maybe this heat running will get me prepped for stronger times this upcoming fall. 20 miles of trail running are on schedule for tomorrow. Yippee!