A little discouraged. Once again, I managed to finish one of these short races with way too much left in the tank. It seems like once I really get cooking it's over. I need to learn how to race and push harder in these short races. I started out pretty good, didn't look at my watch but was in second place when the dust settled in the 2nd kilometer. I was trailing the girl who won last year with a 19:30 so I figured if I kept contact with her that would be about right. I stayed in range of her the whole time and then kicked about a quarter mile out and was closing the gap fast but ran out of race before I caught her--beat me by 3 seconds. I could talk in full sentences immediately and knew this was not a good effort or true reflection of my capabilities. I should have picked up the pace, passed her, and gone for it much sooner in the race. I am disappointed-I know I have at least a 19:30 in me! I am eyeballing a redemption 5k next weekend. Bad idea or good idea? I feel like I need the confidence boost of a 5k PR before my next marathon. Warmed up 3.36 miles at 8:46 AP and did 5 strides off the line. Cooled down 4.22 miles with Eddy at 8:35 AP, stopping a few times to field phone calls since I am the on-call nurse through until Monday. I spent the awards ceremony in my car talking to a client and a doctor. Next I ate lunch with my husband and then had to drive my sweat stinky self in running clothes to a client's house and send them to the hospital. It has been a non-stop crazy on-call weekend and shows no sign of letting up. | 