Brighton Chamber of Commerce 5k

Weather Report: Cloudy & Drizzly, 60°F, 72% Humidity, Winds: From SSW @ 3 mph; feels like 60°F.

Cycling: 4 miles (2 x 2 miles)
Run: 3.1 miles in :19:12 min. @ 8:00 a.m.
Pace: 6:12 min./per mile avg.

Pre-Race Observations: Although I haven't mentioned it here, over the past 2-3 months, I have not been sleeping very well. While I'll go to bed feeling fine, I often wake up early in the morning with an aching in my shoulders, legs or pelvic area. Usually, once I have dragged myself from bed and moved around a little bit, I begin to feel fine(r), that is, until then next morning when the cycle starts again.

I woke up this morning, achy, with the idea germinating since registering for the run, that I would be riding my bicycle to this morning's race, since it is only about a mile and a half away and the movement would provide a good opportunity to stretch out my freshly risen body. As I sit here this morning, it is very grey out, and the forecast for rain seems to be coming to fruition, but I'm still planning on biking (roughly 2 miles each way)... it's not like I'll melt!

Post-Run Reflections: Unfortunately the rain did not hold off, but, as I suspected, I also did not melt as the drizzle continued for most of the half-an-hour wait prior to the start, the race itself, and the hour long awards afterwards. In truth, it was refreshing, especially given the lack of precipitation we've been experiencing here in River City.

The run was a success on many levels. I had set a goal of running PR (the course was the same on which I PR'd in December at the same distance) and held out a glimmer of hope that I might break :19:00 min. Official results have not yet been posted, but I believe I shaved a few seconds off my PR! The level of competition was remarkably high, even though there were four(!) other races taking place within driving distance at nearly the same start time.

In the end, I placed thirtieth overall out of a total of 373 finishers, twenty-seventh of 220 men, and second in my age/gender group(M35-39), earning a neat little trophy which took the ride home with me, tied to the carrying rack by bungie chords with my wet clothes and running shoes.

Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!