My official time is below.

While my time was not terribly and was better than my time during the Right Side Foundation 5K in August, I clearly have some room for improvement for next year.

I will again be running the 5K during the 2009 Baltimore Running Festival this year.  I enjoyed running it in 2008, and I look forward to running the race this year as well.  Much like the Shamrock 5K, I believe I will be a repeat offender running this race.

I added a new 5K to my repertoire, however.  I registered for the Right Side Foundation 5K Run at Patterson Park this year–16 August 2009.  The Right Side Foundation is the new charitable foundation started by Baltimore Orioles outfielder Nick Markakis, and the 5K is the first of (presumably) a long line of events to help the foundation raise money.  I have to admit that I am a bit wary of running a race in the late summer in Baltimore, but the run is for a good cause.  Besides, I need a race between the other two races I run, and this is the perfect fit.

Now that you know, come along and cheer me on.

I did this race in 29:48.  I had a hard time getting out of the pack on this race, and everywhere I turned I wound up trying to avoid someone in front of me who was going a bit slower.  Also, maybe it was just me, but I found the cold, damp weather led to some tightening calves after the second mile.

That said, I am looking to do something between now and October.  I am trying to see if I can pull something off on the West Coast with my friends in LA.

Wish me luck, and if you see me running by downtown, give me a sheer.  I’ll be #3755, wearing the black BU cap as I go by, with headphones on. 

It was my second 5K, and I have to admit I was dreading it.  For some reason, in the two weeks leading up to today, I thought I was going to do worse than I did when I ran the Shamrock 5K over a year ago.  Even this morning, I was talking myself into wanting to come in around the time I did during that race–a little over 30 minutes.  I was worried I was going to get to the halfway point and slow down or stop.

Something strange happened when I got to the starting line.  It is a bit difficult to describe, but I used to get the same feeling in my brief–infinitesimal, really–time playing football.  As I was there, waiting for the race to start, I actually started getting kind of pumped.  The feeling was the same, and the energy was there.  Once the race started, I felt the same way.  I was excited, and the adrenaline was coursing through me.  The burst of excitement for the race was not quite like getting on the field and exploding, and I would say it was much more of a slow build-up.  I never thought I would say this about running, but the feeling as I started was indescribable.  I was so pumped up to get going, as though all the tension, worry, and training I undertook to get here was the right thing.

I wound my way through the masses going north on Paca Street–and there was a large throng of humanity bobbing northward for the 5K.  I went at my own pace, but I wound my way through people.  Even better, I was able to listen to a playlist on my iPod I created–a rather eclectic mix of music that only a nerd like me could love.  My time as I reached the 1 Mile marker was just over 8.5 minutes–I do not recall the exact time.

As I turned around at the halfway point, I felt pretty good.  It was a clean shot south on Eutaw Street, all the way down to Camden Yards and the Ravens Walk between the two stadiums.  As I came down this stretch of the race, it was here that I ran into fellow Pigtowner, blogger, and friend Anger Hangover.  I did not think it was her at first, but as I got closer it was easy to make a positive ID.  I gave her a quick wave and a nod, then continued on my way downhill.*

I tried to pour it on a little at the end, but I continued at my pace for fear of the mass of humanity I would soon be meeting.  I certainly did not want to hurdle my sweaty body into that of another, potentially slighter runner.  It was pretty invigorating to hear random on-lookers cheering as I passed them on my way to the finish line.  As I crossed Lee Street, I felt pretty good.  The clock was off to my right as I crossed the finish line, and I took a quick glance at it.  I did not recall the exact time it had, but I thought it said about 30 minutes.

After I crossed the finish line and slowed my pace, I made a quick turn to the Runner’s Village.  I grabbed some water, a banana, and stretched out a little.  From there, I went and grabbed my free beer tickets and made my way to the other side of the village.  I picked up my bag from the bag check and milled about enjoying my beers, trading texts with friends who knew I was running.

As I finished my second beer, I headed over to the Results tent to see if they had my time.  They printed out my label, and I was surprised at the result.  28:57. The official results are also here.  (The results link is a little finicky, so it may take a couple of refreshes to actually see it.) Below is the fancy image they present.

All in all, I did better than I thought.  I am proud of myself, but I also realize that it pales in comparison to those who ran the Marathon and Half-Marathon.  I will stick to 5K races, but I am pretty proud that I bested my last race. The improvement was incremental, and I am going to strive to do better in my next one.

Strangely, I think I have grown fond of running 5Ks.  There is something I never thought I would see myself write or hear myself say.

* After passing AH near the end of the race, we exchanged post-race results via text.  I then read her post about what she has been through to get to this point, and I am pretty proud to have run with someone who has overcome much to get to this point.  AH, my hat’s off to you on one helluva job.  Let’s do another one in the Spring!

Don’t expect me to start busting out half-marathons, but I think the occasional 5K could become a staple of sorts.  I just need to get some good music on the iPod to make it immensely enjoyable.

So, feel free to find and mock me on October 11th!

When I first got into the running thing a couple of years ago, it would occasionally bother me.  I did some research, and some of the techniques I learned to get rid of it worked.  I am having a harder time stopping it now, and I do not remember it bothering me as much as it is now.

Time for some more research into getting rid of it.