Run For Dad 5K

Today was the 7Th annual Run For Dad 5k, in Mercer County Park. The weather here in NJ has been more like Seattle, which is getting quite old. Enough of the rain already! I woke to slight rain and nice comfortable temps in the high 60's.

The boys enjoy doing the kid's run, and it was questionable whether to bring them, since it was a messy morning. Honestly, if my oldest didn't look forward to this race, and if I didn't pre-register them, I probably would have gone alone.

The race started at 9:00am, and we got to the park about 8:30ish, and got all of the swag. I headed off to the start, and did get in the longer warm up I have been trying to do before the 5k races. I did manage to run to the start, so I did maybe a 1/4 mile.
A bunch of the gang from the Trailruns group where here, since I guess you could call this a "home race". I met them at the start, and wished them all good luck, and moved a bit closer to the front. This is a nice size 5k, there were 482 finishers!

When the gun went off, I tried to find a group of runners, my equal, so I wouldn't go out too fast.

I happened upon Bill Y., from the group, and figured if I stayed behind him, I know I would not be pushing it. WRONG! I clicked off the 1st mile in 6:44. Yikes! I have done it again. I wanted to be around the 7 min pace, and in the excitement of the start, I went out to fast again! When will I ever learn! I did a much better job of that the last 2 5k's I ran.

Well, as the 2nd mile fell into the record books, I knew a PR was out of the question, as I did that in 7:16, almost a 1/2 minute slower than the 1st mile, so I knew what to expect for mile 3. Just past the 2nd mile, my wife and the boys were there, trying to stay dry under a tree. She got a couple of pictures of Bill Y & myself. I was hurting, and I did my best motivational speaking to Bill to keep us afloat for the last mile.

I look like the hunchback of Notre Dame. Note to self.. stand up straight!

Mile 3, and the last .10 seemed like an eternity. The garmin had me at 7:19 for the 3rd mile. As I saw the finish line, I did my best to kick it in, as the seconds ticked by. I thought I had a shot at a sub 22, but crossed at 22:03. Bill was right behind me at 22:13.

On a positive note, I dropped 2 mins off of last year's time, and I double knotted my shoes, so I had no flat tire issues this year!

My son did the kid's run, and the weather really put a cramp into the turnout. It was just him and another girl, in their age group. He did great, he told me he let her take the lead, and passed her close to the finish. What a gentleman! Here's a great shot of his back after the race.

It was a mud mess in the grass, perfect for kids!

All in all, I enjoyed the race, I think I prefer the longer distance races, because I just can't get the pace right in these 5K's. I know of maybe 2 more this summer I want to run, so I still have a chance to get it right!

Here's the group, post race.

Happy Father's Day to all the Dad's out there!