Jungle Jog 5k

Weather: Partly Cloudy, 65°F, 92% Humidity, Winds: From SSW @ 5 mph; feels like 67°F.

Run: 3.1 miles in :20:10 min. @ 8:30 a.m.
Pace: 6:29 min./per mile avg.

Pre-Race Observations: A much rainier(?), wetter day than the past few, and as previously posted, I'm glad for it. In preparing for today's run, it also means that I will likely be wearing my slightly (well, very) worn Montrail trail running shoes as opposed to the Mizuno shoes I generally wear while running most road races. I love the "wear" of these Montrails (having bought the same "make" and "model" the past two times they've needed replacement), and always look forward to going for a ride in them... shoe wait be darned!

Speaking of shoes, folks organizing today's benefit for the Seneca Park Zoo Society run will also be collecting used running shoes (or "sneakers") for donation to both the Monroe County DES (Department of Environmental Services) and NIKE's Reuse-A-Shoe program. This practice seems to be growing more common, and when I think of all the shoes likely laying around folks homes, based mostly on how many we have in our home, it seems a natural and worthwhile cause to have them continue to be useful in some fashion. I will be bringing a collection of three different pairs of my wife's (used) athletic shoes to donate today.

Post-Run Reflections: Weather can be a funny thing, at 6:30 a.m. when I wrote the preceding paragraphs, it appeared as though it would be wet and rainy. As the time for the run's start approached it seemed less likely, so while I came prepared with both pairs of shoes, I actually changed tactics and wore the lighter, Mizuno... although let's be "for real" for a second, it's NOT like the addition of reduction of ounces will make much of difference for a joe like me! So, as the weather icon above went from two grey clouds to a grey cloud WITH sun, so did my choice of running shoes shift...

My wife always gives me some simple advice before I run a race: "Run fast!" Today she added: "Stay on the course!" This unfortunately was foreshadowing of an error I made while running today. At one point, just about 2 miles into the course there was a fork on the path where one was supposed to go left which would take you up into zoo... I unfortunately did not see an indication of direction (there was oddly no volunteers assigned to direct runners) and went right for about twenty yards. By the time we (another few folks went along with me) it was too late and I turned to go up the hillside and meet the proper course.

In the end, my poor judgement cost me a third place finish in my age group, as well as, a sub-20 minute finish. This is not a new experience for me (going the wrong way!), and I guess it just shows that I need to do a better job both paying attention to the course and listening to my wife!

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