Running Log: Thursday, May 20 2010

Polaroid Series: Helensburgh 10k

20 minutes warm-up, 5 minutes cool-down
10k race in 32:36, average pace 5:14/mile (3:15/kilometer)
Splits: 1k in 3:16, 5k in 16:25, negative split last 5k in 16:10 (albeit with more downhill segments)

Notes: humid, overcast evening, about 16 degrees (62 F) with little wind; felt rusty on first 1/2 of the race, even contemplated dropping out due to lack of confidence stemming from battle with inexplicable fatigue this week; pushed on, however, trying to hold onto Mike D. who had put about 10-15 seconds on me by the 5k mark; shortly after 5k, coming around a downhill bend, Mike D. and an African runner in a Bellahouston harriers vest, disappeared; I didn't see it happen due to a blind turn, but they veered off course and proceeded to "win the race" via an alternate route; I started to feel much better by the final 2k and finished strongly; the subsequent disqualifications left me in a distant 2nd place to Eritrean athlete Amanuel H. - I'll take the 2nd place prize, but it's not how I wanted to earn it!