Race Report - 2010 HELPline Turkey Trot 5K

Another perfect day for a race, the temps were in the low 60s and no real wind to speak of, really perfect conditions to try for a PR again. Well, I did say try, didn't I...cause it certainly did not work out that way. I did improve my overall finish result in this race, however, by finishing 30th overall out of 1100 or so runners vs. 39th overall out of 950 or so runners last year. Even though my time was 25 seconds slower this year than last. I dare to speculate that it was due to the slightly warmer conditions vs. last year. The fact that I haven't done any speed training to offset all of the ultra races and training runs could have something to do with it, too I guess;-)

It was a rather large field and I just lined up in the second row of the starting line. When the horn blew, I was off. There is one advantange to not having slower runners lined up before you...you will not loose any time due to having to get around them. However, the biggest caveat is the fact that, more likely, you will now be chasing the really fast guys, which will mean blowout before even reaching the halfway mark. Obviously, that's exactly what happened...and with that, my PR was out the window (or off into the road ditch).

However, a much better overall finish and a bunch of friends I got to see along the way and before and after that race still made this a very fun event. A perfect way to get yourself ready for the chores of the day...eating Thanksgiving turkey until you pass out that is.

The PR goal still stands...break 20 minutes before 2011, and there are only a couple of races left to do that. We shall see if I will have to wait another year. However, it will not be for a lack of trying...training maybe....but not trying;-)