Ottawa Hills Back-to-School 5k
Did it! Finally under 17.30! This particular time is something I've been shooting for since hm, spring of 2007, when I first learned that it was the Full Blue standard for the 5k for OUAC (Oxford Uni Athletics Club). (Now the
time has been adjusted up to 17.40? I swear it was 17.30....)
A Blue is kind of like your varsity letter at Oxford, but you don't just earn it by making the team. Particularly in track, there are set standard times/distances/heights that you have to achieve in order to be awarded a Full Blue or a Half Blue. They are pretty tough, but that also means it's really special to achieve that level. I was close-ish my first year at Oxford (17.45), before I switched to running steeple as my main event, but never ran a sub-17.30 time before today. So, just a bit bonus happy to have finally gotten there!
It was a good race. I made sure to pace properly, using my Garmin a bit particularly in the first half mile. Zach just ran away with it (he was under 17) and Steve had a good 10s on me by the first milemarker, which was way early. It occurred at 5.19, even though I was religiously running ~5.40 pace. But mile 2 was long to make up for it, so at least it wasn't a mis-measured course.
I stayed about the same distance back from Steve all through mile 2 and was thinking how tough it would be to battle for all those 10s right at the end. But then mile 3 happened and I started to reel him in. I passed him up the final 'hill' and then put a bit on him in the final quarter mile for 2nd overall in the race.
3 guys from work and one of their wives and one of their kids all also raced and I had the whole crew over for brunch at mine after. And both of my bosses were actually out there cheering too. Small-town feeling! =)