5K Time

Saturday normally is a day for running with the LA Running Club; but, this time it was off to Baldwin Park for the Pride of the Valley 5K.

So, I headed off down the 10 to the 60 to the 605 and got to Baldwin Park. I then headed to where the race was to start at Morgan Park. I found the pre-registered booth and checked in as usual at the last column when everything is alphabetical.

Last year, there was a goody bag; but, this year just a shirt ... but a decent one. There was chip timing though this time. I stretched out and talked to a few people. There did seem to be fewer runners this year than last.

The start was kind of a mess. The entrance to the course narrowed, creating basically a mosh pit and destroying a free run.

Eventually, I got loose and kind of went for training run cruise control. I was using the long distance running form rather than the old sprinting/power run form.

I found I was starting to pass people from 1 mile onwards. Passing the first mile mark, I was behind last year's time. I still was no too comfortable though and was glad to get the water at about 1.6 miles in the race.

It seemed like I was still fighting the aftereffects of the cold and trying to get my knee loose.

Eventually, around Mile 2.5, I felt better and got moving as others started to fade.

I made for the final turn and tried to power up more; but, the reaction was not quite as planned, with may be half of what I wanted coming. I saw the balloon arch and knew the end was nigh and picked it up for a last sprint.

I crossed, stopped my Garmin, and just walked a bit and headed for the bananas and water (no Gatorade!).

In the end, it was an o.k. run. I had run decently; but, it was not great.

3.01 miles
27:53 of running
9:02 pace