Runway 5k

Time: 57:57
Distance: 8.13 miles
Race: 15:43, 3rd

W/u: 26:23 for 3.16 miles
C/d: 15:51 for 1.87 miles

Tanya, Sean, Benny and I drove out to the airport this morning for the Runway 5k. The race takes place on the tarmac of the airport while there was planes taking off and landing. You are not in or near harms way, but there could be some worries for security. It was pretty cool being up close and personal with jets parked in side gates of US Airways.

The race itself was a little disorganized due to the overwhelming numbers. I think the race director predicted 1,000 participants and when the total approached 1,600, as you can expect, lines for parking, the bathroom and registration were really long. The race was scheduled to start at 8:00 am, but then it was pushed back to 8:15. The race didn't officially start until 8:28 am.

I felt terrible and all hope for winning the $500 flight vouchers went out the window in the first 300 meters. Since the course is completely flat there really is no reason to not go out hard. Sean took the pace and had about a 4 second lead at the half mile when he was joined by a runner wearing a Pacers uniform. Turns out this guy trains with Matt Centrowitz up in the Arlington/DC area and was here with his wife for the weekend. I didn't get the whole story about who lived where, but regardless the guy wanted those tickets.

Through the mile I was about 6 secs. behind Sean and Bert Rodriguez and thought there might be a chance to make a move in the next mile. I hung tough but the gap wasn't getting any smaller and by 2 miles I was packing it in. Sean ran alongside Bert for a good ways but was eventually broken. It was a bit humbling to show up knowing either Sean or I were going to take home the tickets, only to be outrun by someone else. That's how road whoring goes sometimes.

Tanya ran well to just miss breaking 17 mins. However, she was beaten by a dude running with a baby jogger.