After nice, cool, dry weather all week, what did we get for the race this morning?? Yep, warmer temps and saturated air! I’m beginning to think we will not get good fall racing weather this year. Probably go straight from summer to winter racing.

 

The race was to celebrate the move of the Baltimore Ravens football team from Memorial Stadium, where they played the first two years of their existence in Baltimore, to their new home at Camden yards, next to Oriole Park. The course was point-to-point from the old stadium to the new one. It was downhill with a net elevation drop of about 400 feet over 5 miles. There were a few significant uphills. Mostly in miles 1, 3 and 4.

 

During my pre-race warmup this morning, my legs were fairly dead from yesterday’s 24 mile run, so I didn’t expect much from this race. I decided to just use it as a moderately hard recovery run and be satisfied with 9 minute downhill miles.

 

I started at a comfortable pace near the back of the large pack of several hundred runners. Somewhere during the first mile, my legs began to feel much better. Lots of congestion, though, so I couldn’t pick it up much for awhile.

 

I finished in 42:31 for an 8:30 average pace. That’s 1:40 faster than my 5 mile race two weeks ago, but the course was easier. I missed the first mile split, but I estimate that it was somewhere around 9 1/2 minutes. Other splits were 17:35 (two mile split), 8:00, 8:29, 8:26. I felt the effects of yesterday’s 24 miler in my legs when going uphill and in the last mile, although I continued to pass people all the way to the finish and wasn’t passed by anyone after mile 3. And, I did have a nice kick to the finish. Maybe it was inspired by the Ravens band and cheerleaders lining the last hundred yards to the finish line. J I placed 20 of 33 in my 59-60 age bracket......but I was the oldest guy in my age bracket. Next week, I move into a new one.

 

The post race refreshments were simple....water, Pepsi and a huge cheeseburger grilled on the spot by Outback Steakhouse. It was delicious!

 

I ran into DavidW before the race. I haven’t seen him since last year’s MCM. We ran the first  half mile together and chatted later in the finish area. He’s been away from the Forums for awhile. Many of you don’t know him, but he is in the photos that are currently on the Bridgestormer website.

 

I continue to be encouraged. I’ve had three satisfying races in the last three weeks.....all in very humid and fairly warm weather......and I don’t run well under those conditions. I was hoping for a short race under nicer weather conditions before my first marathon this fall. Looks like I won’t get it since my taper starts tomorrow.

 

Jim2

 

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