Jingle Bell Jog 8k

Sunday I ran the Jingle Bell Jog 8k. Given the state of my recent training I wasn't in the best shape, but if I finished first or second in my age group I would win a $50 or $60 gift certificate to Metro Run and Walk. My primary age-group competition finished a few minutes behind me at the one race that both of us ran, so I figured my chances of finishing first or second were pretty good.

The course for the 8k went along a bike path, through a parking lot, along a narrow path, and then out on to the roads for the finish. The course was mostly clear, but parts had the remnants of the snow and ice we got Friday. I started pretty well, and went through the mile in 6:21. During the second mile, I caught up to a few people who had passed me in the first mile. As I passed the second mile marker, I looked down at my watch and saw 12:05 as I hit the split button again. However, that 12:05 was not my two-mile split. The battery on my watch is almost dead, and a few times I've hit a button and had it go blank and then reset itself, which is what had happened. So I pressed on into the third mile with no idea what my splits were and passed a handful of people. One of them stayed on my shoulder and then went by me, building a lead he would hold until the finish. I ran by myself until just after the four-mile mark, when the pack of people I had passed caught back up to me. I stayed with them and we pressed on toward the finish. One runner surged a few steps ahead. I thought If I want to catch him, I've got to go. I went, getting a few steps on the pack but not quite catching up to the runner ahead. As we approached the finish, I was thinking about Mike's finish in his recent half-marathon, how he picked up the pace and passed someone near the finish. We turned the last corner, and the finish was up a small hill. I kicked hard, passing the runner ahead and finishing in 31:35.

I did finish first in my age group and won the gift certificate, although I won't actually receive it for a few weeks. I like the fact that I'm fast enough to win stuff from my club, but I won't be back next year. Not only do I have to drive further than I'd like to run the races, I never felt like I made any connections with anyone in the club. There's another club I'm planning on joining for this next year, and hopefully they'll be a better fit.