RACE: Space Walk of Fame 8K, Titusville, FL @34:44 (PR!)

When I woke up Saturday morning, I heard heavy rains. As I prepared for the race the rain settled down, I was thinking up justifications for not going. (I hadn't been training well/consistently/any for the couple weeks leading up to the race (as the blog would reflect), and I just didn't want the embarrassment of either run-walking the race or having my chest/armpits cramp up and having to run-walk the race.

I figured that I paid for the race and that it would be bad for me to be away from the running family for so long (it's been weeks). So I went.

The weather turned very beautiful and asides from a light wind, there wasn't anything to use as an excuse.

The race was a two loop course (a 2-mile loop followed by a 3-mile loop -- more like out-and-backs); it ran along the side roads with the Indian River within ear's reach.
At the start of the race, no one really sprinted out. It was an easy-going start, and that led to a very consistent race for me -- mile splits 6:45, 7:04, 7:07, 7:04, 6:44 (!!!).

There wasn't so much of a carrot during the race, but the knowledge that I wasn't racing anyone except for myself. I usually get anxious about getting passed, but it just doesn't do any good to worry about other people's abilities, and somehow I managed to have a good mind.

Approaching the finish, the guy I had been drafting off of was about 15 yards ahead of me, and there was a high schooler right in front of me. I called out to the kid to encourage him to "keep going" and "just go ahead", but he didn't have the kick left in him, so I moved along myself and ran toward my draft object. On the final stretch, I saw the clock read 34:31 -- I was going to get sub-35 minutes -- so let's gun for a sub-34:45. The draft guy and I took off on a dead sprint, and my Asian legs didn't fail me. It was the most competative finish I've had in recent memory (people usually don't want to challenge)... it was quite invigorating. Granted, it made me start the motions to throw up, but luckily (?) I didn't have any breakfast to lose.

I grabbed my camera afterwards and went picture crazy... it's been a while since I've been at a race, and I've always quite a number of pictures at this race.
It was so nice seeing everyone again.

And here's a pic from the Kid's Race:
And it was very surprising that I did manage 3rd place in my age group (Thanks Ed!).
It didn't take long for the results to be announced, and on the way home, I passed by the bakery where the awesome energy rolls were donated from, so I stopped in, grabbed a couple of multi-grain cinnamon rolls and a loaf of apple swirl bread.
Then from there, it was home, upload pictures, shower, then out to Orlando for an afternoon at the parks, followed by a shindig at my friend Minish's.

Anyways, I really am glad that I went to the race. I would've been okay with not getting an award, but it was a nice surprise. Participating in the race (at any capacity) is always a rewarding experience.

:)