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JamieoftheNorth
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Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 116
Location: Southern Maine
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 Posted: 11/20/05 - 12:33 Post subject: Turkey Trot 5K (in Cape Elizabeth, ME) - New PR!!!
I arrived early at the race about an hour and 15 minutes before the start, got registered, and went back to my car to keep warm and listen to some tunes. The outside temp was somewhere in the upper 30s, which isn't that bad for this time of year and the skies were also clear. I eventually got out, did some warm-up runs, and it soon became race time.
My ultimate goal was to break the elusive 20 minute mark. My previous PR was 21:01, and that was back in July. I laid off the smaller races after that so I could concentrate on a marathon I had last month. I knew I was faster now, but I figured pacing would be a challenge and my biggest obstacle.
I took my place towards the front, but not too much so, and the starting cannon went off. There was a gradual uphill followed by a downhill and I soon crossed the 1st mile marker. I ran it in 6:00 flat! I thought to myself, "Crap! That's too fast!" (I had planned on 6:20/miles). But I felt pretty strong and tried to wipe the negative thoughts from my head.
I soon hit mile two with a 6:20/mile pace. Ah, that was more like it. However, I felt pretty wiped at this point. I wondered how I would do it. But again, I tried to turn my thoughts into positive ones.
While working on the third mile, I took a corner, and remember seeing a large pack of runners not too far behind me. I thought, "Crap!". Two other runners caught up to me and passed, and I could hear the others footsteps not too far behind me. The course then went followed a few rolling uphills, and I caught up with and played leap frog with one of the guys who passed me for a while. Then, the course hit a sharp, long uphill. Traditionally, this is where I usually shine. I guess since I do a lot of hiking, I do very well on uphills. I caught up to and passed the leapfrogger, and then the other guy that passed me. Sweet!!! Their footsteps soon became mere whispers.
I reached the top of the hill, and it was just a little more than a tenth of a mile to the finish. I initiated my kick and crossed the finish line in 19:47!!! Sweet!! I did it!
I was 3rd in my age group, but there were only awards for the top two in each division (Grrrrrrrrr  ). But that's cool. I'm stoked to have finally cracked the 20:00 mark. It's great to be a teen again! 
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Cappy
Excelent
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Joined: 16 May 2002
Posts: 27368
Location: Spreadsheetylvania
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 12:57 Post subject:
AG award and a PR, a good day indeed. Congrats
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Kimba90
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Joined: 03 Dec 2003
Posts: 3594
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 13:29 Post subject:
Wow, congrats on breaking the sub-20 and a great PR for you!!!
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Pug
The Movie Geek
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Joined: 21 Aug 2003
Posts: 8924
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 13:48 Post subject:
Breaking 20 feels hella good, huh?
If you can shine on uphills, it'll really put a hurtin on the other runners. Nice job.
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blueskies
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Joined: 02 Nov 2003
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 20:00 Post subject:
Good job on a non-pr type course! Guess you'll be aiming to break 19 next!
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JACKED UP
PRESIDENT
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Joined: 06 Jun 2003
Posts: 21238
Location: www.johnnydu.com
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 20:10 Post subject:
Wow, sub 20!!!!  Most excellent! 
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gretriever
Hipster Doofus
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Joined: 16 Jul 2003
Posts: 19385
Location: A moving target in a firing range.
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 20:35 Post subject:
Congrats on the new PR.
Cappy's right - a finish in the top three is an award (even though you didn't get the hardware).
Edited to add - You ever do Beach To Beacon? I did in '03.
Last edited by gretriever on 11/20/05 - 21:55; edited 1 time in total
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Joined: 14 May 2002
Posts: 14462
Location: ON YOUR LEFT!
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 21:02 Post subject:
You were due for a PR. Congrats.
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Joined: 15 May 2002
Posts: 16218
Location: unknown zone
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 21:06 Post subject:
| JACKED UP wrote: | | Wow, sub 20!!!! Most excellent! |
 way to go!
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JamieoftheNorth
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Joined: 20 Oct 2005
Posts: 116
Location: Southern Maine
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Posted: 11/20/05 - 22:30 Post subject:
Thanks everyone. I'm still reveling in it. Yes, sub-19 is next!
| gretriever wrote: |
Edited to add - You ever do Beach To Beacon? I did in '03. |
No, I just missed the registration this year. I won't let it happen again next time though. It'll be fun to be able say I ran a race that had Kenyans competing in it.
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thooogy
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Joined: 16 Jul 2005
Posts: 542
Location: 40.91N - 73.27W
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Posted: 11/21/05 - 00:44 Post subject:
sub 20 5K? I'm winded just thinking about it!
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shelee
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Joined: 23 Oct 2002
Posts: 2409
Location: IN
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Posted: 11/23/05 - 17:28 Post subject:
Nice kick at the end, Jamie, and a PR to boot! Excellent racing. 
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