St. Libory IL, Run for the Son 5K

(Marvin) This was the second time I ran this race, and like last year the weather was cool in the morning, but quickly warming up in the afternoon. I wanted to run hard this year hoping to get under 19:00 minutes. I ran hard and strong, but my time was 19:43 slower than last year when I was struggling on the last mile. After the race another runner saw that I was wearing a Garmin gps and asked me what the distance was. He had a Garmin too and wanted to compare distances. My Garmin showed a 3.2 mile and his showed 3.18 miles. I looked up my results from last years Garmin and it showed 3.08 miles. I think that the course was not accurately mark compared to last years. My average pace was showing 6:10 minute mile and that would of put me under 19:00 minutes for the 3.1 miles. Oh well. This course is flat with out and back. I came in fourth overall with 19:43 first in age 30-39. I'll have to remember next year that they give out top 3 overall trophy, so I can try for third or better. I won an attendance prize of $25.00 gift certificate to Target, so I came out ahead of money on this race.

(David) This is a pretty nice race. Last year I signed up too late and did not get a t-shirt. This year I got one. The course is pretty flat and is almost an out and back. Starting off I thought I was doing o.k., first mile 5:49. The second mile I still felt good but thought I was slowing down, time 6:54. The last mile I knew Marvin was getting farther ahead of me. I finished one minute behind Marvin and over a minute behind my last’s year’s time of 19:24. My time this year was 20:33. Looking back I don’t think I was pushing myself as hard as I should. I did this at a few other races this year. I run at a hard pace but know I could push harder.

I almost didn’t do this race. However, it worked out that I could and Marvin was doing it so I figured “why not”. I got second in 30-39, behind Marvin. I still don’t like the big age groups. That was one reason not to do the race.

Like last year, they gave a lot of nice attendance prizes and like last year I didn’t win any. I haven’t had much luck with that this year. Overall it is a good race, but not one of those that I really feel excited about.