Race Judicata 2011

As the saying goes, this one was over before it started.

I knew heading in that 4-peating as the fastest lawyer in Chicago was a long shot. Like a 20-1 long shot. Matt F. has simply been running way too strong this year for me to expect to beat him. My only hope was that the race was slow enough for 2 miles that it turned into a 1 mile race and I’d pull off the upset. Instead, he hammered mile 1 in 4:40 to erase any doubt. Well played, my friend. Well played.

I wasn’t too far back as I hit mile 1 in 5:04. But my race was now for second. Step for step with me was Derek H., a former Fleet Feet teammate, Race Judicata champion, and occasional training partner. I knew he had targeted this race and that he wasn’t going away. In fact, as we hit mile 2 he gapped me by about 5 feet. While my marathon training and long tempos had me holding strong at 5:15 pace, I didn’t have much of a top gear.

I made a tactical decision to make my move early. I caught him by about 2.2 and put on a surge. He and I both know I have a bigger base than him, so I was hoping that gapping him with almost a mile to go would break him. I put my head down and ran hard until about 2.6. When I realized he matched the surge and stuck within 5 feet of me, I knew I was in trouble. As we rounded the last turn – which is also a downhill – he put on a surge of his own and gapped me. He never looked back. Once again, well played my friend.

I crossed in 3^rd in 16:40. Before the race, I told my parents I’d be happy with 1:00 slower than my PR of 15:41. Given the heat index of over 100, I’ll chalk it up as my first short, hard tempo run of the training cycle.

Very nice job in that heat Dave! The heat has been like that here in DC while I have been here this week. I can't imagine racing a 5K in this heat.

That's an awesome run. It's fun running against formidable foes, especially when you know them. 3rd place is also "well played".

mountandog wrote:3rd place is also "well played".

+1

Sounds like a fun race....

I think you can take your title back next year. The winner is still in year 1 of working in a big firm. They'll start putting the screws to him in September. Let's see how he is running 12 months and 2,500 billiable hours from now.

Dave-O wrote:While my marathon training and long tempos had me holding strong at 5:15 pace, I didn’t have much of a top gear.

I hope you realize how impressive this sounds to us mere mortals...

Also, while not directly related to this race, I found this text message exchange with a college buddy to be funny.

Him: What'd you run tonight?
Me: 16:40, a minute slower than my PR.
Him: Weak. I'm only three minutes slower than you.
Me: And my best time is only three minutes slower than the WR. Doesn't mean I'll catch em.
Him: Touche.

Dave-O wrote:Also, while not directly related to this race, I found this text message exchange with a college buddy to be funny.

Him: What'd you run tonight?
Me: 16:40, a minute slower than my PR.
Him: Weak. I'm only three minutes slower than you.
Me: And my best time is only three minutes slower than the WR. Doesn't mean I'll catch em.
Him: Touche.

love it!

Congrats on a great race, this heat is a booger for all of us even those of us who are happy with an 8:00 pace 5K...

Dave-O wrote:I knew heading in that 4-peating as the fastest lawyer in Chicago was a long shot. Like a 20-1 long shot.

Sounds to me like there may have been an official handicap? For those kinds of odds, I would have put some $$$ on you.

Well run, sir.

Dave-O wrote:Also, while not directly related to this race, I found this text message exchange with a college buddy to be funny.

Him: What'd you run tonight?
Me: 16:40, a minute slower than my PR.
Him: Weak. I'm only three minutes slower than you.
Me: And my best time is only three minutes slower than the WR. Doesn't mean I'll catch em.
Him: Touche.

+1

Great job on the race in those conditions.

Well Dave, congrats on third. I can't even imagine running a 4:40 mile. Jeez. That was an impressive tempo run in those hot conditions. Good effort.

Dave one simple word about your performance last night AWESOME! You are on your way to one fantastic Oct day.

Heat sucks. You don't. Way to crank out an impressive performance in oppressive conditions. Keep up the good work.

Love the text exchange too.

Congrats on what sounds like a well run race performance against tough competition. Hats off to you, Dave!

Thanks Dave. Always fun to read what its like at the front of the pack.

Great race, Dave! Do you really think marathon base could be the difference in a 5K, though. Just wondering

Dave-O wrote:Also, while not directly related to this race, I found this text message exchange with a college buddy to be funny.

Him: What'd you run tonight?
Me: 16:40, a minute slower than my PR.
Him: Weak. I'm only three minutes slower than you.
Me: And my best time is only three minutes slower than the WR. Doesn't mean I'll catch em.
Him: Touche.

Funny

Great job anyways. If it makes you feel better, you would beat me

Great job Dave in that weather. I can't even imagine that kind of pacing. Congrats. Great texting with your friend.

Laughing at the text. 3 minutes of a 17 minute race... 17.6%. That's like me saying that a 2:40 marathoner is weak because I'm only 17.6% slower than them. Yeah, right.