Date: 2010-11-06
From: home

To: Logan County,KY RUN/WALK 5K
Miles today: 0.0

Sat.Nov 6ththe alarm goes off @ 5:30am...i couldve slept longer...but needed to get up & moving...i have another 5K race-walk competition today up in Auburn, (Logan COunty)KY...about an hours drive NORTH of my house.I shower & put on the underalls (longjohn type running leggings,etc) then my running/walking shorts & T-shirt...grab a cup of strong coffee...my walking shoes & head out...its still dark as I drive...NORTHbound...up thru Adairville,KY (on Hwy 431)& then onto Hwy 68 til Auburn...& the City Park there...I arrive a few minutes after 7am..a few runners & walkers are already here...i past the bank in Auburn & their sign said it was 26 degrees....sheeeeesh!thats cold....glad i wore my underalls...i brought my fleece pullover too & wool cap...just in case i decide to wear them to keep me warm during the race-walk.I check in & get a "goodie bag" (yes!...another t-shirt) & then wait in my car to stay warm..til some of the other walkers arrive that i know...Jerry Dixon arrives a few minutes later (my friend & coach)...then Robert Sweibel a few minutes later...I asked the race organizers how many had signed up they said abt 45 had pre-registered...(this is the first year for this race)...i found out later there were abt 75 participants total...we lined up @ 8am...& we're off....the runners go off @ a fast pace...us walkers were also up front @ the start...but will keep our paces steady...Jerry Dixon takes off...as usual...like a lightning bolt...I started off with Robert (Sweibel) & Nancy (Padfield)...but jumped out front a few paces early....out of the park we turned right onto the main road (Hwy 68) for a short distance before turning right again on Scott Road...This is an "OUT N' BACK" course...where the course is 1 1/2 miles out & then back along the same route to the Finish...Its very COLD...but there's no wind..but as we turn onto Scott road the sun is right in my eyes...I'm keeping a high pace...walk...walk...walk...fast walking...Hit the 1 mile mark...a water location...dont take any water...but maybe on the way back...Just before the 1 1/2 mile mark...the turn around spot...Robert catches me....& we make the turn together & walk the next mile side-by-side...I told him my goal is to beat my best time of 36:10 today...he said..."you've got it already...we're looking @ under that!... maybe a 35"...I'm getting tired...i slow my pace a bit...taking longer strides...but keeping pace with Robert....as we approach Hwy 68 again...i slow...Robert takes a few steps in front of me....& then Nancy pulls up next to me...she says "lets catch him!"....i told her i dont think i can...we walk together down Hwy 68..then turn back into the park...by this time I'm really, really tired...keeping the pace high...is wearing me out...Nancy says..."keep the strides short & give it a little speed"...i do...& speed it up a notch...the last few yards...i see the finish line...i cross & click my stopwatch...& WOW!...the pace was very high!...I walked a 35:04.50.....wooooooooooo-hoooooooooooooo!that slices off 1 min & 6 secs off my former best time of 36:10 (which came last week in the "RUN for the FIELD" 5K in Springfield,TN)WOW!!!...i am very pleased!...that averages a 11:41.36 mileI take 2nd place in my age group (55-59)..Robert takes 1st place a few seconds faster than me.I find out later that Jerry Dixon came in under 30 minutes...WOW!...he is SUPER FAST!Roberts pacing me for over a mile & Nancy's last 1/4 mile advice/encouragement worked...Awesome!I have signed up for a 4-mile RUN/WALK in Springfield on NOV 20th (Beth Null Dorris Run For Life 4 Miler) hopefully it wont be as cold on that day...I also will be participating in the LOUDHOUSE COFFEE arts & crafts festival later in the day 11am-7pm, 2427 Highway 41 S, in Greenbrier, TN..."live" acoustic music, food, great coffee, Free Admission & of course awesome arts & crafts...I invite all my friends by to check out my ART!see ya'll UP the trail & on the track!