Brimfield 5K, 2011 version….groan.

Well, I think that I’ve stopped my downward slide.
Sure my time was disgusting (27:52 for a 5K run) and well slower than my 24:09 back in 2009.

But reality: that 2009 race was prior to having to lay off due to my knee…and my July 2010 knee surgery.

So living in the moment: I started back in the pack where I now belong. It took me 4-5 seconds to get to the start line. I kept it slow (so I thought) for the first couple of miles; 8:41 then 8:43. But running at that pace; I am just not used to it. I had to take two 30-40 second walk breaks in the next mile (9:40); but I had just enough to finish the last .1 in 48 seconds for 27:52 by my watch (27:57 official). I was 146 out of 251, as opposed to 82 out of 254 in 2009.

Next: I’ll try Yates City next week, and maybe, just maybe I can sustain 8:40-8:45 for perhaps .5 more miles. It didn’t feel that bad; I am going to have to toughen up a bit. And yes, I think that I did myself some good today.

Oh yes, for the first time over the past 4 races, I finished ahead of Theresa!

Note: I ran in the 26′s a couple of times earlier this year prior to the double red cell donation and the lay-off due to my piriformis trouble. But after returning to running, I failed to break 30 minutes for my first 5K (July 4) and in my next 3 miler. So I have definitely stopped the downward slide.

Social note: there is this 75 year old guy named Art Harris who runs this every year. This time, he was perhaps 10-20 seconds behind me; we were side by side at mile 1. He always wears a painter’s style runners hat.
What is unusual about him is that he has a good looking stride; you can tell that he was once a speed demon in his youth (competitive). 10-12 years ago we finished within 30-40 seconds of each other, though, of course, he was a competitive athlete in his day and I never was. When he’d pass me he’d say “hang in there kid”.

But he has hit that age where athletic ability really nosedives; I am in the “shallow, almost linear decline” stage.
I think that if I stick with it and am patient in my comeback, I might be able to run in the 23-24 minute range again…someday. But I have to build up strength slowly and not try to do too much, too soon.
Once again, I am a beginner.

Note: I noticed the slow down back in 2000. I wrote to Running Times and Bill Rodgers (yes, THAT Bill Rodgers) answered my question.

After the run
I went for a 4 mile Hike with Lynn at Wildlife Prairie Park.

Obligatory political note: Lynn and I were looking at the “big cats” (bobcat) and discussing politics, as usual. I said something to the effect that we should make up youtube videos and let Mitt Romney debate himself…someone overhead me and said “that is funny!” Of course, that individual might well be a Republican who sees Mitt Romney as a RINO (Republican in Name Only).

Advertisement