Running 12:00 [1] 1.43 mi (8:24 / mi)
Arrived to the Toledo Zoo, and it was a zoo! Wowzer, I didn't know that this was a huge race. 976 finishers, according to the results. So warm-up consisted of lots of dodging folks while doing the normal car -> registration -> bathroom -> car -> start line shuffle.
Running race 17:40 [5] 5.0 km (3:32 / km) +24m 3:27 / km
Toledo Zoo's Dart Frog Dash 5k
Yeehaw! Not quite a PR, but I'm happy, just a few seconds off and my first solidly under 18 5k in awhile.
When I showed up, Jeff let me know that Rachel K. and Rachel M. were both there, and that K would certainly beat me and that probably I'd beat M. Rachel K. was some level of very serious runner and kicked my butt in the winter 10 miler, so I figured he was probably right.
Met M. at the start line and said hi to K., figured I'd not let myself start faster than her, because that would be too fast. So after the start line cleared out, I was side-by-side with her and my racing buddy Kevin. Perfect. Then Kevin took off, I figured I was at a good pace. About 2/3s of a mile in, I started pulling away from K. What? Am I going to fast? Doubt, but it feels ok.... First mile came in, 5.28, well, that's a bit speedy, but it was downhill. Hope I don't die!
Second mile just felt good, I caught Kevin, he said something about 'It's your day, take it!' Inched past him, and then was on my own. The course joined back with the way we came out, so some good cheers until the 2 mi mark which was 5.47. Not as fast, but not dying and had more uphill. At that point, I felt in control.
Last mile was 2/3 out in the open streets, although away from the heading-out crowd, so pretty silent, just a few police officers directing. And then, you head into the zoo and the race actually ends on it's swirly plastic boardwalky paths! Not the fastest, but great sprint-o training. =) At one point, you had to do nearly a 360 around a statue of an elephant, I nearly lost it there, trying to come out of the circle too early...
Happy to see the time as I crossed the line. Probably had a bit more juice to bring it to the PR, but I don't feel practice in 5ks yet, will have more confidence for the next one!
Running 12:13 [2] 1.51 mi (8:05 / mi) +3m 8:02 / mi
Cool down with Kevin, said hello to the Maumee River! Also, we agreed we should definitely do track workouts together, since we both do them at UT and usually alone. Woo training buddy!