Mars Band on the Run 5K

This was the first annual running of the race that supports the Mars High School Band. I showed up early like I always do and picked up my packet. I was hydrating myself all morning because it was really hot/humid and to be honest sticky. I met up with some of the people I know from Meetup.com and we BS'd while we warmed up and stretched. I had no intention of pushing myself for this race, I wanted to work on pacing and just being able to run the race with as little walking as possible.

The band played the national anthem which was really cool because I have never seen this done at a race before and they had the honor guard from the Marines there as well. After that we started out. This was a nice rolling race through the country side on paved roads. We ran through a housing project and at about every mile there was a group from the band playing music for us.

Right as we started the rain let loose and it was really refreshing. It really cooled things off at least for a bit. I ran the first mile at about a 14 min pace. I kept up with a couple that was running and you could tell she was less experienced than I was and at about 3/4 of a mile she told the guy with her she needed to walk some. I ran right past them. Then came the first of the smaller hills.

I ran about 1/2 way up it and had to cut back to a walk, but as soon as I hit the crest I started running again. At the half way point they had a water station and now that it stopped raining it got even hotter and stickier. Then came the LONG hill that everyone was worried about. I walked it but after last weekends Murder mountain this seemed like a piece of cake. When I got to the top there was a volunteer there that said so soon as I hit that little bump ahead it's all flat to the finish. So off on a run again, I did have to walk a little of the last mile, the heat was really getting to me, but then I saw the school and could hear the band playing the pink panther song, so I kicked it back in gear and started to run again. When I came around the turn into the parking lot where the finish was I hit into a little sprint and ran through the finish for a 41:17. This wasn't a chip time, and by my timer I was at 40:50. So To be honest with myself I am calling it an even 41. Which beats my previous PR by 43 seconds. Not that great but still a new time to beat. My friends both got medals which was really cool and I won and ice cream cone as a door prize (just what I need huh?) but I am giving that to my daughter.

I paced myself pretty good and came away from the race pain free which is a win for me. Last night my shin did get a little achy, not painful just enough that I iced it but I ended up sitting a lot yesterday and I was getting stiff by the end of the night. Today I feel great and am ready to go do it all again. This race is definitely on my radar for next year as well.