Angleton 10K

I did the Spectacle Spectacular 10K down in Angleton this morning. Not because I'm in race shape but because I've done this race every year since 2003, making it my longest streak going, and it's a good little race down there. I've finally been able to start training again the past four weeks, though not all-out. The leg still bothers me but is better and running doesn't seem to make it much worse. But most of my training runs have been at an 8 minute pace - not enough fitness to go much faster, plus I'm just trying to lay down some base milage.

So my expectations this morning were non-existent. I just wanted to treat it as a training run while still seeing what kind of fitness I've re-established. It was nice and cold, but also windy, especially going out. But I ran relatively relaxed and the cold was invigorating. With the wind in my face I hit two miles in 14:53, about the pace I expected. Shortly after the two mile mark we turned, which took the edge off the wind. I hit three miles in 22:11, meaning a 7:18 mile. After three miles we turned 90 degrees again, putting the wind to my back. There's a 2 mile straight away from the end of mile three through the end of mile five so I felt myself running a little faster, and began targeting the guy up in front of me, the only person I'd have a real shot at catching. At four miles the guy calling splits told me I was 20 seconds back, which probably represented a five second improvement over where I was at mile three. By the time we got to the end of mile five I had closed it to about 6 or 7 seconds, but when we made the turn the guy noticed me over his shoulder and that would be about as close as I got. That was too bad because he appeared to be in the 40-49 age group.

I kept the hammer down in case I got an opening, but it never appeared and I finished nine seconds behind him, at about 44:17. I still managed 2nd in the 40-49 age group and I was pleasantly surprised at the 7:08 pace I managed. I was even more surprised when I did the math and determined that I had run the final 3.2 in sub seven pace. Now I know that type of pace is slower than what's expected of Lance Collins, but given the injury, and no training for four months, I was pleased that I was actually able to "race" this morning. Looking forward to getting back in shape, if the leg continues to not interfere.