Jennifer Tinney Memorial Race - 5 Miler

Official Results:  5th OA, 1st AG M30-39, Time: 30:28 (6:06/mile)

I first have to start off saying that I am not that surprised that I was slower than last years time.  I haven't been putting in the training miles to run a race of this distance competitively.  I would have liked to have beat last years time, but it just was not attainable.  The good thing is that it gives me a good idea of how much work I need to get ready for the Falmouth Road Race next month in order to post a great time. 

Jess and I arrived at the race site at 7:15am and after getting home last night from our 3rd of July party around 11pm, we were tired this morning.  Since it was still raining when we got there I ran out to pick up our t-shirts and my race number.  Jess ended up waiting in the car to avoid the rain since she was doing the 2.5 mile walk.  The good thing was that the rain ended about 15 min before the start.  While Jess waited I was able to find an overhang at the Boxford Community Center to stretch out and do my normal pre-race warm ups. 

We lined up right on time and after the gun went off, we weren't out to a fast start, which was nice even though my first mile was way to fast for where I wanted to be.  I hung with the starting group and ended up taking the lead just after the first mile and by the second mile I couldn't keep the pace.  I should have run with a better strategy, instead of just running that hard for the first 2 miles.  By mile 3 to 3.5 I was done!  I had hit my wall since my longest runs so far have only been 3 to 4 miles.  With a little more than a mile to go the two runners behind me had caught up with me and I had dropped from 3rd to 5th.  After that I felt like I had to just do what I could to get to the finish and keep this at my training pace and dropped to a 6:15 to 6:20 pace. 

Overall I was a little bummed out with the performance, but the good thing is that I have my health and Jess there to support me.  I am just hoping that I can get more training and miles in to really get prepped for Falmouth and the Call to Honor Triathlon in September.