Mansfield Lexington Turkey Trot

I've been well behind on my blog as W and I were expecting (and since had) our first child!  To say we are excited is an understatement.  I've finally had a few moments to think about my last race of 2018 so here are my brief thoughts.

This one was odd in that it was announced a few weeks prior to the Thanksgiving race date.  This was especially odd as there were three race distances: 5k, 10k, and half marathon.  I had no idea how many people would show up for this little known race.  It was ran entirely on the B&O bike path from Lexington heading south and back.  I ran the same course a few years ago and remembered it being relatively flat.

Race morning was chilly but not awful.  There was a very slight mist prior to the race but that went away before the start.  I was pleasantly surprised by the number of people at this race.  The 5k had 47 finishers, the 10k had 8, and the half marathon had 13.  This race could certainly grow due to the fast course.

We started out on the path and I moved into the second group of runners.  The second half of my year did not include much running for a variety of reasons.  I knew this would not be anything near my 20:00-20:30 range and just aimed for a nice hard run.  We headed south of Lexington and I moved ahead of a few runners before tucking in behind the leaders.  This is one of those races in which it's difficult to tell who is in what race.  I just focused on myself.  

There isn't a whole lot to say about the course as it was pretty flat and fast.  Just a bike path run through farm country.  The lack of wind certainly helped, but I was certainly feeling the race by time we hit the turnaround.  I hit the halfway mark in about 10:40 which is close to where I wanted to be.

The second half felt fast as we passed most of the runners and walkers.  I noticed four people in front of me at the turnaround and wanted to just maintain fifth place.  The fourth place runner was at least 50 meters away and sixth place was probably 25-30 behind.  I couldn't let up too much, though my legs wanted to do so.  

We finally hit Lexington and went down the only hill of note on the course.  I tried to speed up and hit the mat in 21:42.  I did maintain 5/47 overall and first in my age group.  Not the best race of the year but I was pretty happy with the effort.

That's it for 2018!  I have no idea what 2019 will bring since we now have a little one.  I'm hoping to enter a 5k around March but it just depends.  My next post will look back on the up and down 2018 running season.

Mohican 5k

Two posts in one day!  Let's get caught up on this blog!

The Mohican 5k is a race I somehow won last year.  I had no such aspirations this year.  That was good because it was a much faster field.  I still had a blast as this is one of the best organized local races.  There's plenty of parking at the race, a well marked course, great volunteers, great weather, and a fun time. 

We started by heading south on Wally Road toward State Route 3.  This is a great way to start the race as it's flat and fast.  This part of the state is actually very hilly, but the organizers have carved out a nice fast course.  I felt good from the start but, surprise, started out too fast.  I tried to hang with some high school kids which could have been disastrous.  We turned west onto the bike path right next to SR 3 for a long straightaway.  This turns into one of those "zone out and run" type of races.  I had around a 6:25 for the first mile.  Let's all say it together: Way too fast!

I passed one or two runners here and then found myself right where I needed to be.  I guessed I was around sixth or seventh place.  That was a good place to be on next to no training in the two weeks leading up to this race.  We turned around to head back the way we came and I tried to keep up a good pace.  The second mile was probably around 7:00 which was closer to where I should have started.  I still felt pretty good and wanted to finish with a solid time. 

The third mile is pretty cool as we finish up with the straightaway and then, instead of turning back on Wally Road, continue on the bike path next to the river.  It winds around a bit to the finish and is a very pretty section.  I was able to pass one runner in this area which is a great way to finish.  I crossed the line with a very respectable time of 21:10.  I'll take that on zero training.  My effort was good enough for 7/77 overall and third in my age group.  The age group award is a very nice pint glass with the race logo.  This is after finally receiving my age group award from the Sweetcorn Festival in July, also a pint glass! 

This was a great race and I'm happy I was able to run it again this year.  Like I mentioned in my previous post, running has not been a priority for well over a month.  It's been a struggle to get out twice a week for a couple miles.  Regardless, I've signed up for a trail race tomorrow.  It's two miles (there was a four mile option) but I know these trails are tough.

Next race: Hoot and Scoot Trail Race at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary- Mansfield, OH

Sweetcorn Festival 5k

This small race was held in Mt. Gilead which is about a half hour from home.  It featured a 10k with prize money, but I knew I wasn't fast enough to compete with the folks running that one.  I simply wanted a good, hard 5k. 

I got to the race in plenty of time and saw off and on rain in the forecast.  It was a bit cooler so I figured this might be a better race than the last few.  We headed out to the meager start line and I made my way to the third line of people.  There were certainly some fast looking runners and I assumed most were after the prize money, which was more than you would think for a small town race.  My GPS watch has been giving me fits and I kept it on the watch function to at least get a sense of my pace.  The cloudy day wasn't helping it any. 

We headed north before making a turn west about a quarter mile into the race.  A lot of people took off at a fast clip and I just tried to maintain what felt good.  I figured I started in about tenth place overall, but that's with the 10k runners so I figured I was in the top five for the 5k.  We went up some residential streets and into the country for a bit before heading back north for the loop.  My first mile clocked in around 6:15-6:20 which was faster than I wanted.  But I felt good and tried to maintain that pace.

We continued through residential areas before heading east past the high school.  There were two younger runners in front of me and I worked on closing the 50 meter gap between us.  My pace was solid and I'm guessing I was around 6:30 or so for the last mile.  I was also pretty sure the course was going to be slightly short.  Still, I felt really good and was enjoying myself for a change.  We made it past the school and started south toward another residential area and the finish.  I finally caught the two runners in front of me and made it past them with a half mile or so left.  I then turned expecting to see the finish further away and was shocked to see it so close.  I guessed the course measured 3 miles even rather than 3.1.  I was able to finish strong and hit the finish line in a surprising time of 20:08.

I did go to MapMyRun later to chart the course and it came up to 3.1 miles.  For some reason it felt short so I take that as a good sign.  I can count it as my fastest 5k for the year and it came on very little training.  I did finish 3/34 overall and first in my age group.  The only complaint I have is the handling of the awards.  Many of us were hanging around after the race.  I finally heard, after almost an hour, that awards were going to be mailed out.  That's all well and good (and preferred) but better notice would have been appreciated.

My next race will be my 70th half marathon, unless I decide to do a 5k next weekend.

Next race: Heart and Sole Half Marathon- Wooster, OH

Ontario Liberty 5k

This is the second race this year that started and finished at Ontario High School which is about half a mile from home.  I love easy logistics.  The course is the same one from the Childhood Cancer 5k back in May.  It was just as tough as that one as the high for the day was just over 90 and the humidity was awful.

My only goal for this one was to place in my age group.  There are a ton of high school kids at this race with most of the Ontario High runners in attendance.  It's one of the more popular races in Richland County and gets around 150 people each year.  I ran it in 2015, posting a sub-20:00, and last year with W. 

I don't have splits for this as my New Balance GPS watch is really acting up.  It was a clear day and I couldn't get a signal.  Time to replace it.

I lined up for the start in the third row, allowing the kids to have space, and planned to stay in that neck of the woods for the remainder.  We started out going north by the high school and I felt ok.  The weather was going to be a factor, but I started out slow enough to know conk out late in the race.  We hit Milligan Road for the long downhill portion of the race.  I passed a couple younger runners right before the first mile marker.  I believe I stayed in that position for the rest of the race.  This downhill portion also allowed some shade if you ran on the left side of the road.  It made a huge difference!  We then headed for the lollipop loop around the east end of Marshall Park which is a dull stretch.  I did look at my watch for a rough update and saw I was around 14 minutes at the two mile mark.  That's right where I wanted to be as I was shooting for something around 21 minutes at this race. 

Then the hills hit.  I train a lot on this course since it's close to home.  It never ceases to amaze me how this hill seems to take FOREVER.  Ever time it seems to flatten out, another incline starts.  It's not steep, it's long.  I simply maintained my position until we finally made it out and back to the high school.  I was able to kick it in for a nice finish with an overall time of 21:10.  This effort was good enough for 9th overall and second in my age group, which included a nice trophy!

I'm still sticking to my plan of racing less.  One a month, on average, is realistic right now.

Next race: Sweetcorn Festival 5k- Mt. Gilead, OH

Run to Remember 5k

I'm behind on the blog again as W and I recently returned from vacation.  This Memorial Day race was in nearby Shelby and I am really enjoying the local race scene.  It's getting more difficult to get up early and drive somewhere for a race as I'm just too dang tired.  

This was a much smaller race than I was hoping for but it was well organized.  I chose the 5k even though a 10k was also offered.  The heat and humidity was awful a couple hours BEFORE the start so I knew it would be tough.  

I started near the front for the start as we ran maybe twenty yards before turning south through town.  Why do some races begin with these immediate turns?  It makes it really difficult at the start of a race.  I felt good from the beginning but wasn't sure what I would have in me.  The sun was just beating down on us.  We began weaving around town in a counter-clockwise loop about a half mile into the race.  I was in second place, though I wasn't sure if the leader was in the 5k (he was).  The first mile came in a blistering 6:14.  I knew this was too fast and there was no way to keep up that pace.  The second mile was more my speed as we continued back to Main Street.  We did get to run around Seltzer Park which offered a tiny bit of shade.  Another runner passed me near the end of the second mile and he looked like he had plenty in the tank.  The 10k runners broke off here and I could see the two in front of me were both in my race.  A quick look behind me showed nobody close so I pulled off the gas slightly.  I was already beat!  The second mile came in at 6:44 so I was still running a respectable pace.

There's not much to say about the final leg of the race.  The second runner was well ahead of me and I kept well ahead of the next group.  I kept a slightly slower pace as there was no point in killing myself.  We headed back to downtown and made a quick turn for the finish.  The last mile was 7:00 with an overall time of 20:28.  That was good enough for 3/57 overall.  Not a bad showing and I'm now in a lull between races.

Next race: Ontario Liberty 5k- Ontario, OH

Childhood Cancer 5k

I added this one late as I had the morning free and the race started and finished about a half mile from home.  You can't beat such convenience.  The proceeds went to Akron Children's Hospital which is a great cause and organization.

The race started at 10:00 and it was already muggy.  I run this course several times a week and know how tough the hills can be during the second half.  Did that stop me from starting out too fast?  If you guessed yes then you haven't been reading this blog for long.

We started at Ontario High School for a nice straightaway.  I came out in the top three and quickly moved to second place.  I recognized the eventual winner and knew I couldn't catch him and simply tried to maintain second.  We then turned east on Milligan Road for the best downhill portion you can imagine.  It's a steady and long downhill that doesn't completely ruin the quads.  I felt good but realized my error as I finished the first mile in 6:05.  Shocker.

It was getting increasingly humid as we headed south and back around through Marshall Park.  I tried to keep up the pace through the park and chanced looking back.  The next runner was at least a minute behind me and the first place runner was at least a minute ahead.  I was right where I needed to be.  The second mile came in at 6:30, though I knew that would end once we turned back onto Milligan and headed up the hill.  I was right.  There are rolling hills combined with a gradual uphill on this portion.  I was shot by this point and just hanging on for a good time.  I actually walked up one of the rollers to conserve energy for the finish.  We finally made our way back to the straightaway leading to the school.  I didn't push the pace, as there was no reason to, and hit the third mile in 7:25.  My overall time was a respectable 20:50.  That was good enough for the age group win and 2/77 overall.  Not bad for a last minute race.

I'm going with a quick turnaround and doing it again with a local 5k on Memorial Day.

Next race: A Run to Remember 5k- Shelby, OH

Bunny Buster 5k

I ran this small 5k at the Ashland YMCA last week.  I'm enjoying these local 5ks a lot more than I would have expected a couple years ago.  However, I did start to get a mild cold the night before with a bad sore throat.  Race morning was rough as I actually contemplated scratching from the race. I went back and forth about it several times, similar to last year's Kilt and Kolor Run, and finally decided to try it out and take it easy.

The weather was decent with temps in the high 30's to low 40's but the wind was strong.  We started on a side street near the YMCA and I headed out at what I thought was a conservative pace.  There were maybe 4-5 people ahead of me at the start and I just tried run strong and place in my age group.  We headed west toward downtown and then headed north for a bit.  I felt surprisingly good but was horrified by the 6:23 for the first mile.  I was aiming for around 7:00.

We then headed east on some side streets.  I passed a few runners during the second mile and kept up a nice pace.  The roads and sidewalks were a bit uneven during this section but nothing too bad.  The eventual female winner was right ahead of me and I kept pace with her for the remainder of the race.  There were two people behind us by maybe 50 meters or so.  I usually slow down quite a bit during the second mile of a fast race.  Here I actually ran a 6:29 to keep up the solid pace.  Not bad.

There wasn't much to report during the return to the YMCA.  We did have some confusion at a turn.  We were supposed to cross the street but still head straight.  One of the guides told us to turn left and then corrected it a few seconds later.  It probably only cost us a few seconds, but I did hear some other runners say they headed the wrong way for a bit.  The female winner passed me at the three mile mark which came in at 6:49.  I finished strong down the grassy finish to a solid 20:09.  I believe this is my sixth fastest 5k!  Not bad for almost scratching.  This effort placed me 3/66 overall and first in my age group.

The next race is at a distance I haven't ran in six years, the five miler.  I didn't really race then so I'm expecting a PR.

Next race: Cooper Tire Centennial 5 Miler- Findlay, OH

Road Apple Run 5k

I finally decided upon my next race and went with this repeat from 2014.  The race is a simple out and back at Crestview High School, roughly a half hour from home. I'm understanding the appeal of nearby races more every year.

W came along for this one too. She had to listen to my usual "not sure how I'll do at this one" speech at the start. She countered by reminding me that I say that every time. Well then.

Over 200 runners (this is a very popular race) lined up at the start and were sent down the long straightaway. Like I said earlier, I ran this one in 2014. It was actually my first race when I moved here. I wasn't in the best shape then and knew I could do nbetter this time. I started off a bit too strong and found myself in a pack of high school runners. That's either really good or really bad. I knew I was in the top ten and just wanted to maintain. The few hills were minimal but I still felt iffy around the mile mark. Should I stop and walk for a bit? That actually crossed my mind as I hit one mile in 6:21.  Way too fast considering the wind was right in my face.

I did pass one person during the second mile near the turnaround mark.  I instantly felt better as the wind was now to my back.  The hills didn't feel too bad either.  I kept up a nice pace and hit the second mile in 7:08.  Not too bad, but I really wanted to speed up some during that last mile.  We kept heading south on the same country road.  The only change came with a little less than a half mile as we turned into the school complex for the finish.  I was very close to the next runner but couldn't quite pass them.  I was able to kick it in during this last half mile and it felt great.  I hit the third mile in 6:40, which is closer to where I should have been for all three.  The finish came (complete with catching W at the finish) in 20:46, good enough for 6/218 overall and first in my age group.

I'm extremely happy with this time and really believe I can hit a sub-20:00 sometime this year.  Next up is the same distance in a few weeks.

Next race: Bunny Buster 5k- Ashland, OH

Mohican 5k

W and I have had a very busy Fall and I've fallen behind on the blog again.  I found this smaller 5k down in nearby Loudonville and decided to try it instead of a half.  My training has been so-so, but it had been a while since I last ran a race.  I was surprised to see the course looked flat, which is not what you are expecting near Mohican State Park.

I did my usual "I don't feel like doing this today" thing that morning.  W is used to it and told me to have fun.  She really knows how to handle my quirks when it comes to running.  I headed to Loudonville and got there in plenty of time for a mile warm-up.  The weather has been surprisingly warm and it felt humid out, too.  We're not used to October humidity in Ohio!  It looked like around 100 runners at the start line and I head toward the front.

We took off on road from a small village park and headed southeast toward Route 3.  This portion was maybe 3/4 mile long and I felt good from the start.  I tucked in to fourth place for this first section and just tried to hold on for an age group win.  The three runners in front of me looked like they were in high school, so I just tried to keep up with them.  We turned onto a bike path running parallel to Route 3 and headed south to the turnaround.  My first mile came in at a solid 6:27, though I was aiming for just shy of 7:00.  I somehow passed two runners at about 1.5 miles in and found myself in second place.  The first runner had taken off strong and I just worked on maintaining a good pace.  We hit the turnaround I was just over a 20:00 pace.  The first runner was still ahead but I noticed I had gained some ground.

I knew I had the age group thing in the bag and decided to see what I had left in the tank.  I could also tell the leader was losing some steam and I still felt great.  My second mile clocked in at a good 6:45 pace so I hadn't slowed down too much.  The leader was really losing steam and I caught up to him just after the two mile mark.  We ran together for a short time and I made my move with 3/4 mile to go.  The bike path took a short downhill and I flew down that to create a bit of separation.  The last 1/4 mile was tough, but somehow, someway, I was able to cruise in for a surprising first place finish!  My final mile was a shocking 6:18 and my overall time was 20:25.  Not bad at all for a last minute 5k!

I might run another 5k in December but now it's time to refocus on my favorite distance.

Next race: Inland Trail Half Marathon- Elyria, OH

North Fairfield Lions Street Fair 5k

This was one of those "I've got the itch to race" runs for me.  North Fairfield is a tiny burg about 40 minutes from home.  W wanted to go to this one, so we got up a bit earlier than we would like on a Saturday and headed out.

The town is basically two roads intersecting with a few homes and very small businesses.  I haven't done many of these tiny races as I used to, but really enjoyed doing them when I lived in the Dayton area.  There's a certain charm and you get to see some hidden areas of the state.  The race started at the village park, which was actually much nicer and bigger than I would have guessed.

The weather was perfect for mid-July.  It was high 60s, cloudy, with a cool breeze.  I felt decent coming in and thought I might be able to beat my last 5k in Galion.  We headed to the meager start line and headed out on the out and back course.

I felt great from the get-go but tried to not get carried away.  The course was pretty flat with a few very small rollers.  I started in the top five and just held steady there.  A runner who I met and ran a warm-up with earlier was running the same pace, so we just ran together for the majority of this one.  We hit the cones for the first mile in 6:25.  Right on pace for a nice race.  We passed one runner and made our way into a tie for third.

There were two high school runners in front of us and we both thought we might have a chance to catch them.  But my will to run a PR type race lowered when we hit the turnaround.  My watch showed 1.47 miles.  Crap.  This was going to be a short race.  We both slowed down a bit, though still hit the second mile in 6:24.  When the heck is my second mile faster than the first in a 5k?  I can't think of many times at all.  I still knew it was worth pushing for a good time and passed my fellow runner to get into third place.  The return to the park was a net downhill which helped me at the end.  I finished with a 19:05(!) but my GPS showed the course at 2.96 miles.  I'm guess I would have been around 19:45, so I'll go ahead and count this as my third sub-20:00 of the year.  That's more than all other years combined!

I did finish in third overall, out of probably thirty-some runners, and finished first in my age group.  Next up is the dreaded 10k distance.  I've been running better 5ks than ever before, so I am hopeful that will translate to a 10k PR.

Next race: Plymouth Fireman's Festival 10k- Plymouth, OH

Ontario Liberty 5k

I'm very late on getting to this one done and my next race is tomorrow.  How many times have I started a post with that sentence?

This was another of W's races for the year.  A friend of hers walked it with us, which I think made it much easier for W.  She came into it with as much training as the Kingwood 5k so she was nervous.  The race starts at Ontario High School which is about a half mile from our house.  I'm coming to terms with the fact that easier logistics makes for a more enjoyable time.  The weather helped as it was cool with a light rain.  The day before was very humid so we lucked out.

We started out with a long straightaway on Shelby-Ontario Road.  This race was much more competitive than when I ran it two year's ago.  There were only a few walkers in this one.  The three of us started with some light jogging before switching to walking when we turned on to Milligan Road.  This is the best downhill portion of the race and a great way to build up time.  W looked very comfortable.  The conversation was greatly helping her.

I didn't have my watch so there are no splits.  I could tell that W was going to break her time from Kingwood by a good margin.  We went around the park in a loop and back to Milligan.  W did sprinkle in some more jogging at the turnaround point.  She was having fun!  We turned back on Milligan and (remember that earlier downhill?) had to contend with the uphill.  We then turned back toward the school for one last jog into the finish.

W finished with a final time of 51:54.  That chips off almost three minutes from Kingwood!  On little training and a tougher course that's not bad.  I think W is done with 5ks for a little while and will probably hit one in September.  My next one is tomorrow and looks to be very small.

Next race: North Fairfield Lions Street Fair 5k- North Fairfield, OH

Avita Moving Hearts and Soles 5k

I ran this nice local race over in Galion last weekend.  The weather has warmed up, so my 5k times are going to be slower than the blazing fast (for me) times I've been running.  I felt pretty confident going into this one.  I haven't had the dead legs feeling this year that I normally get this time of year.

The race started at the Avita Orthopedic Center in Galion, about a 15 minute drive from the house.  While I'll always prefer the half marathon, I do like the easier logistics of running local 5ks.  There's no real driving, no hotels or restaurants, the registration is cheaper, and I'm more competitive at this distance.

I did not have my GPS watch with me for this one and ran solely on feel.

We started out heading west on Hosford Road.  There were a few rolling hills sprinkled in the first stretch.  This helped my time out a bit.  I started out in the second group of people, as there were some fast looking high school kids in this one.  That's one negative to summer races.  We turned south at the next road for another straightaway.  I caught a few people in this stretch and knew I was in the top ten.  My first mile was probably around 6:30 or so.  It felt faster than it should be considering the heat.

The second mile was dull.  We turned around and headed down a LONG straightaway.  There were very few hills and no real scenery.  I went back and forth with another runner, but both of us wound up where we began.  Nobody was passing me and I wasn't passing anyone.  I guess that's how you know you're in the right place!  We turned around again and headed back toward Hosford Road.  Prior to getting there, we headed through a small residential area to break up the monotony.  I was feeling the heat and was certainly slowing down.

We finally made our way back to Hosford and I was able to finish somewhat fast.  I tried to catch the other runner from earlier but with no luck.  After turning back to the orthopedic center, I was able to hit the finish line in 20:43.  This was good enough for 7/194 overall and second in my age group.  Not a bad outing.

The next one actually occurred a few days ago.  W ran in her second 5k of the year and had a very good effort!

Next race: Ontario Liberty 5k- Ontario, OH

Kingwood Center 5k

W and I did our first race together last weekend.  We have ran the Kingwood Center 5k together the past few years as this amazing place holds a lot of meaning for us.  We had our first date there in 2014 and were married there this past September.  It's certainly W's favorite place in Mansfield as the gardens there are spectacular!

W's training has been inconsistent at best this year.  She was very nervous going into this one.  She did have two things going for her: the heat wasn't nearly as bad as last year and there were no cicadas!  If you look at last year's race, the cicadas were dive-bombing us during the whole thing.  It was no fun at all.

This year's race was in much better temps, though still warm, and it was just an overall nice day.  W had the goal of getting the race in under the one hour mark.  I had a feeling she could beat her time from last year of 55:48.  We started near the back of the pack, but W wanted to start off with some jogging.  That surprised me and she did a good job of starting strong.  We did the usual weird loop in the high school parking lot and made our way toward the B&O Bike Trail.  W was keeping up a strong pace and finished the first mile in just over 17:00.

We continued walking at a brisk pace.  I was walking at a pace just faster than what W was comfortable at, which I'm pretty sure she noticed.  We continued on the bike path as the winners were circling back past us.  North Lake Park offers a change of pace in this race as we head off the path for a quick lap around the lake.  W was still going strong and was doing much better than last year.  The geese weren't out like they usually are at the park.  We finished our loop and hit the second mile marker soon after getting back on the bike path.  W had a slightly slower second mile but was still on pace.

The third mile is primarily on the path.  We were both feeling the heat as the sun had come out from behind the clouds.  W was trying to slow down a bit but I kept her on pace.  She let me know she wasn't pleased with that!  We finally made our way off the path to the Kingwood Center for a loop around the east side of the grounds to the downhill finish.  W finished hard and came in with a final time of 54:17.  She took a minute and a half off her time from last year!  With no training!

Needless to say, I am very proud of W for gutting it out.  She has earned a break and will walk at the upcoming Liberty 5k in Ontario.  I have one 5k between now and then.

Next race: Moving Hearts and Soles 5k- Galion, OH

1LT Michael L Runyan 5k

Shocker of shockers, I am behind on the blog again.  W and I just did a 5k this weekend, but I still have to get to my report of the Michael L Runyan 5k in nearby Ashland.

This race was very well done in memoriam of Michael Runyan, who died serving the country in Afghanistan.  His family has organized this race at Ashland University for the past seven years.  The words before the race were moving and served well to remind everyone of what Memorial Day means.  I can't think of a better tribute.

The race itself was challenging and surprising.  The temperature was higher than the recent Heartland 5k.  I felt great going in and knew I could run a decent time.

We started out with a half lap at the Ashland U track prior to hitting a long straightaway through a residential area.  I started with the lead pack of five or so runners.  This quickly spread out as the top two runners took off and the third place runner kept a good pace in front of me.  There was one small hill near the beginning but not many the rest of the way.  That's surprising in Ashland.  We headed north at the one mile mark for the lollipop portion of the course.  My first mile came in at about 6:15 (I don't have the exact splits).  Very fast and I was feeling more beat than the Heartland 5k.  We continued around another residential area and headed back toward the start.  I kept gaining on the third place runner only for him to speed up any time I got next to him.  He eventually sped up leaving me in fourth place.  The fifth place runner was still far behind me.  The second mile clocked in at 6:40.  I was thinking that I *might* be able to come in under 20:00.

The final mile was rough as the sun came out from behind some clouds.  This warmed things up quite a bit.  I just tried to hang on and hit the last hill prior to turning off toward the university.  A quick lap around the track and I had somehow managed another sub-20:00 5k.  My final time was 19:42, good enough for 4/119 overall and 1/5 in my age group.

I only had two sub-20:00 5ks EVER prior to this year.  Now I have them in back-to-back races.  More importantly, I've been enjoying running some 5ks this year.  Next up is a race with W.

Next race: Kingwood Center 5k- Mansfield, OH

Heartland 5k

I'm a bit behind (I know, shocker) and need to catch up prior to this week's 5k.  The Heartland 5k took place in nearby Lexington and utilized the bike path and some village streets.  I felt really good going into this one and was looking for around 20:00 or the usually elusive sub-20:00.

The temperature was very good at race time at about 50 degrees.  It got much warmer as the day went on, but it stayed very nice during the race.  I took a pre-race jog around Heartland Church, the race venue, which is something I normally don't do prior to a 5k.  The thought process is that I normally don't do an actual warm-up and then wind up going out too fast.  This strategy worked as you'll soon see.

I lined up near the front of the meager start line.  Two high school age runners were up there, so I lined up with them and hoped for the best.  The gun went off and we headed around the church on a grassy path and then to the bike path soon after.  I felt very good and kept up with the other two runners, settling into third place.  We headed out on a long straightaway on the bike path and I just put it on auto-pilot.  There was plenty of shade and I was able to keep nice and cool during the early part of the race.  We turned off the path and headed toward a residential area at the one mile mark.  The first mile clocked in at a fast 6:08.

This was an extremely fast mile.  I let off the gas a bit as we made our way through the town on several small village streets.  The only hill of any significance was roughly at the halfway mark but it wasn't very steep.  The other two runners were ahead of me a bit and the next one behind me was maybe 50 meters or so behind.  We made a loop around and headed back toward the path.  The second mile clocked in at another fast 6:32.  I usually crap out on the second mile but a 12:40 after two miles is very fast for me.  We made our way back to the bike path for the final mile.  I knew I didn't have much left, but I wanted to give it a go for a sub-20:00 race.  I focused on maintaining rather than changing my speed at all.  The second place runner was barely ahead of me.  I didn't think I had a chance to catch him and kept working at maintaining pace.  The third mile came in at 6:27.  We finally wound up back at the church and headed back to the grassy path for the finish.  I crossed in third place with a surprising PR of 19:39!

How this happened is beyond me.  I am focusing on shorter races more this year, however, I haven't really been doing speedwork.  The mileage is still there but the speed is not.  I'm obviously thrilled with the result as I had not PR'd in the 5k since 2013.

I'm hoping to keep up this nice streak of solid 5k races.  I have finished the last three 5k races in fourth, second, and third places.  The next one is coming up in just a few days, though the course looks more challenging.

Next race: 1LT Michael L Runyan 5k- Ashland, OH

Liwiro la Malawi 5k

I won this local 5k two years ago and decided to give it another go.  W had a previous engagement, so what else would I do with a free Saturday morning?  The field looked tougher as it was up from 58 in 2015 to 95 in 2017.

The race starts at the square in downtown Mansfield, runs up (I do mean up) Park Avenue, before circling back on a lollipop out and back.  The first part of the race is killer but the second part has a nice long downhill.  My previous 5k in Savannah went very well and I was looking for a sub-21:00 effort here.  On to my brief report:

We started from the square and I felt loose right away.  I was with a group of four runners as we made our way up the hill on Park Avenue.  This is the toughest section and I took it very easy.  At least it felt easy as my first mile clocked in at a surprising 6:47.  A younger runner passed me and took the lead.  I tried my usual thing where I close in and stay with someone and watch them panic and take over the lead.  This happened a few times but I couldn't shake him.  We turned off of Park Avenue for another slight uphill before turning back again for the downhill section.  I passed him at around the two mile mark, but only held the lead for a quarter mile or so.  The second mile clocked in at a surprising 6:57.  That's much faster than my normal time in the middle of any 5k.

We continued downhill back to Park Avenue for the finish.  I had to kick it in some as the third runner was not far away.  The eventual winner was just slightly ahead of me, but it was enough for me to settle for second place.  I kicked it in for an amazing 6:13 final mile and finished in 20:48, good enough for second place and another solid 5k time!  I missed winning this one by only six seconds but I'm happy with this time.  I had a good time at Savanah, but that was on a slightly short and very flat course.  This one was much tougher.  I also received a great looking trophy for my efforts.

The next race is my favorite one of the year.  It will be my sixth time running it and W and I plan on spending a day in Yellow Springs after it's over.  The weather looks to be gorgeous with temps in the low-mid 50s.

Next race: Ohio River Road Runners Club Half Marathon- Xenia, OH

Kilt & Kolor Run 5k

W and I made a long weekend trip to Savannah last week.  It was a beautiful time and I got some great running in at Forsyth Park.  The weather was also perfect with temperatures in the mid-60s to low-70s.  I looked for a half marathon and didn't see anything I wanted to drive to.  This little 5k on nearby Hutchinson Island fit the bill just fine.  It is nice to do something low-key in an unfamiliar city.

I know, I don't do color runs (or similarly gimmicky races).  Thankfully this one offered a clean, timed 5k at 8:00am prior to the color (or kolor) run at 9:00am.  This worked out well as I was able to just run the race and head back well before the main event started.

W and I were both a bit under the weather prior to this trip.  I told her to sit this one out so we could enjoy the rest of the day.  I got up on race morning and laid back down, debating whether to run or not.  In the end, to no one's surprise, I decided to give it a shot.  The venue was only about 15 minutes away from where we were staying and I figured I could gut out a 5k.  My expectations were low and I was really just looking for a decent run.

The course was nothing to write home about.  I was expecting that going in, but it could have been any 5k back home.  We started out with an odd portion on grass for about two hundred yards or so.  Then we made our way around the parking area and out to the main road.  I started out in the top ten and focused on picking off one runner at a time.  The course had a few minor hills and weaved in and out some.  My first mile clocked in at 6:57 which was much faster than expected.  I picked off several runners and found myself in fourth place where I would stay for the remainder.

Overall, I felt really good up to the turnaround.  This was an out and back course so we knew what to expect in the second half.  I slowed down some to 7:07 for the second mile, but I was still firmly entrenched into the fourth spot.  The runner in front was ahead by 100 meters and the one behind me was about the same.  This wasn't the most competitive race as more people were here for the color run.  I slowed down briefly during mile three and then sped back up for the final run through the parking lot and the grassy area.  I was pretty shocked to find I had run a 20:59 which was good enough for 4/72 overall and 1/3 in my age group.  Not a bad effort, though I had the course measuring at 3.04 miles.  Still, I'm pretty happy with this time.

My next effort will be back in Mansfield at a race I won two years ago.  I'm expecting it to be tougher this time around as my training has been inconsistent over the past few weeks.

Next race: Liwiro la Malawi 5k- Mansfield, OH

Jingle All the Way 5k

Thus starts three straight weekends of races.  W and I are going to the Hot Chocolate 5k in Columbus this weekend, but first I had this fun little race in nearby Ashland.  

The race kicked off Ashland County's Salvation Army Kettle Season, a great cause.  It was a small race at around 40 people or so.  I just stumbled upon this one from RunningintheUSA.com and decided to do it while W had other morning plans.  

We started out from the Kroc Center in Ashland and headed out to one of the main roads.  We stuck with sidewalks throughout most of the race.  That's definitely different than most 5ks but it worked.  A younger runner who looked like he was in junior high or high school took off really fast.  He ran a steady pace the entire way, so I just ran hard to maintain second place.  We made a loop around the Kroc facility on some side streets.  I didn't wear my GPS watch and just ran on feel.  No splits for this one.

I certainly felt the colder air in this one as it was in the high 30s.  We have had a very warm fall and my lungs were protesting the cooler temperature.  Regardless, I felt good and ran hard.  There were just a few hills sprinkled throughout the course with the main one coming roughly halfway through the race.  I dared to look behind me and saw the next group of runners were about 100 meters behind.  I still felt pretty comfortable and let off the gas a bit before flying downhill and back to the main road.  I did indeed finish in second place with a terrific time of 20:00.  

I'm not really taking that time too seriously, as I'm very sure the course was short and came in closer to three miles even.  That still would make for a sub-21:00 for me which is great.  This race served as a nice low-key warm-up for my 60th half marathon, coming up in two weeks.

Next race: Hot Chocolate 5k- Columbus, OH

BW5K

Well, this is certainly the latest I've ever done a race report.  I'm in a strange lull between races and have not had one in over a month.  I still have a few weeks until the next one and realized I haven't reviewed this terrific local race yet.

This one was at nearby Pleasant Hill Lake in the Mohican area.  I ran the Mohican 17k last year from the same site, but this 5k was FAR better organized.  Ohio Race Day does a wonderful job organizing races in the Mansfield area and I've enjoyed every single one.  This race was on a hot day but offered plenty of shade.  I felt pretty good and had a strategy of starting off slower than other recent 5ks and seeing if I could run more even splits.

The race included a high school challenge, so there were a bunch of fast kids lined up in the front.  I tucked in behind them and started off at a good pace.  My goal was to stick with the second pack of high school runners (this race made me feel old) and try to hang on.  We moved away from the lake on a paved trail and weaved around the south portion of the lake.  It wasn't particularly scenic but the shade was wonderful.  I passed several younger runners early on and had a nice first mile in the 6:50 range.  That's right where I planned to be and hoped to stay in that range.

We continued weaving around in several small loops and I passed a few more younger runners late in the second mile.  I did miss a turn for one loop and had to make it up which cost me a few seconds.  Thankfully, I was feeling stronger than in my last few 5ks.  The second mile came in around 6:45 so I was holding steady.  The only real hill on the course showed up around 2.5 miles in and it was a rough one.  There was no shade and we were still on asphalt.  It was tough but I was able to pass one more runner and glide in for a great 20:11.  This is actually one of my top five 5k attempts and it was good enough for 24/92 overall (there were 23 sub 20:00 times!) and first in my age group.

Hopefully I can keep up with this blog in the near future!

Next race: Run to the Wall Half Marathon- Clinton, OH

Kingwood Center 5k

FW and went to the Kingwood Center 5k last week.  Last year, FW ran a personal best at this race.  Her goal for this year's was to beat her time at the Flying Pig 5k last month.  She's been able to get outside more, but she's still getting into the swing of things.

First, we had to fight cicadas.  They're back with a vengeance after a 17 year absence.  And they're really not bright.  Seriously, they fly right into you no matter what you're doing.  They were all over the Kingwood Center, which isn't surprising with all the trees and flowers for them to munch on.

We started out near the local high school for a straightaway and turnaround in the parking lot.  FW surprised me by mixing in some light jogging during the first mile.  It was very warm out, but she's improved by running a lighter pace and lasting longer.  We then went down a grassy trail to hit the nearby bike path where we would stay for the majority of the race.  I could tell FW was feeling pretty good despite the up and down training.  Her first mile clocked in at 17:29.

The bike path portion went on for a while and, thankfully, the cicadas were not bothering us here.  We saw several people we knew heading back toward the Kingwood Center which was nice.  FW sprinkled in some more jogging and was still feeling good.  We then made our way around a long loop at North Lake Park.  The park is very pretty this time of year.  The jogging stopped momentarily, so I grabbed a water for FW at the water stop.  We then made our way back to the bike path and hit the second mile marker in 17:25.

FW was finally feeling the race during the third mile and had to slow down.  We walked most of the mile until we came back to the grassy trail leading us back to Kingwood.  There was one hill here but FW jogged up in a good effort.  We then stayed made our way into Kingwood for the downhill finish.  Our last mile was in 18:10 and FW finished her 5k in 55:48.  This was a bit faster than her effort at the Flying Pig, plus it was much hotter at this one.

FW is planning on running the Ontario Liberty 5k on July 4 which is coming up fast.  We're ramping up her training over the next week.

Next race: BW5k- Pleasant Hill Lake, Ohio