Pawcatuck Lions 5K

After two good races in JV states, my track season was over. I was a little disappointed about not making states, but at the same time I was happy I would have one less track meet and that I would be able to compete in Pawcatuck Lions on Saturday morning.

The Plan:
Win. Take it out at 5:20 pace and if anyone is still with me, pick it up and lose them. I wouldn't have the stamina to pass someone at the end, so I would want to lead at the turnaround. If no one was with me, I would try not to drop the pace too much in mile 2 and whatever I had left in the last mile.

The Race:
Not a great turnout for runners Saturday. Only Two WTAC singlets, dad and I. Johnny Eckel had recently returned to running, but wearing a Prout lacrosse shirt on Saturday. The starting gun went off, and I started out in the lead pack. Next to me was James Rose, a teenage runner who had done this race before and seemed to be quite fast, he might be tough to beat, a 30-something guy who looked like a good runner and also looked like the actor Armie Hammer, and there was another runner who looked fast in the pack.

After a third of a mile or so, Armie Hammer and the other guy dropped. I was in the lead now, but I could hear Rose's footsteps behind me. After a while, we finally passed mile 1, 5:24. I was hoping it would be a little faster, but it was good. I could still hear Rose behind me, maybe 10 seconds away.

I tried to keep the pace, and the cop car seemed to get farther and farther away. Soon I came up on the turnaround, and I could hear no footsteps behind me. I turn and I've put lots of distance on Rose. Unless I had an awful second half, I was going to win. After Rose was Dad, followed closely by Johnny. I heard cheering and encouragement from runners yet to reach the turnaround until Mile 2, 5:34.

Then Mile 3 began. I was running alone, exhausted and staring at my watch, waiting for it to finish. No one came up on me, and finally the end came, Mile 3 split was 5:46. I cross the finish line, 17:27, taking 3 seconds of my PR, which happened in the only other 5K I've won, Avondale 5K 2014.

I watch the other people finish, Dad, Johnny, and James Rose comes in 6th. As I think about it, I realize I probably could have gone much faster the last mile. The winner's award is awesome- see the photos.