Celtic Solstice 5 and the last needed PR

I kind of forgot about this race. I signed up mainly because (1) a few coworkers were running it (team Victory Loves Company!), (2) it's hard to turn down this sweet race shirt:

it says STOP AT NEVER on the inside pocket. I mean, how cool?

and (3), I didn't have a chance to PR the 5 mile this year (previous PR: 40:23, set at this same race back in 2007).

I've been streaking (running at least 3 mi every day) since a few days after the marathon, but I haven't really been "training" -- no speedwork, no tempo runs, no hill repeats ... just running. It's been nice.

It met up with two of my friends/ coworkers at our work at 7:00 and we drove into the city. I'm kind of obsessive about getting to a race early, but the good thing about being a lawyer is being around other Type A-ers who understand that getting to a race an hour before the gun goes off it totally normal. We got into the park, parked easily, and headed over to the start. It. was. FREEZING.

L to R: Jen, me, Colleen, Kim.


We hung out in the warming tent until it was time to head over the start. We were treated to a small parade of bagpipes (very cool) and finally took off around 8:34.

The first mile was really crowded. I should have seeded myself closer to the front but I thought I was pretty far up. I needed to keep an 8 mm/ just under that to PR and I figured it wouldn't be too much of a problem, but I was a little concerned when I hit mile 1 at 8:04. It cleared up after that, though. I just felt GOOD during the entire race. I was racing it but I didn't feel that OH-GOD-LET-IT-END feeling until the very end. The course isn't super flat but it's hardly hilly. I'd call it "rolling light."

Runners wore jingle bells and Santa hats and the ground was still covered in snow - made for a very winter-y, very festive race. Everyone just seemed so damn happy.

SPLITS:

1	8:04.7
2	7:41.5
3	7:38.4
4	7:30.1
5	7:09.8

HOW'S THAT FOR A NEGATIVE SPLIT? WHEEEE!

I crossed at 38:31 (7:42 pace) and waited for my friends to come through the chute. After warming up with some Dunkin Donuts hot chocolate, we met at Miss Shirley's for brunch. How much do I love a giant omelet, biscuit, and home fries after a great race? So very, very much.

We wore/ brought our race shirts from our Big Races this year:

Kim (JFK 50), me (Philadelphia Marathon), Colleen (Baltimore Marathon), Jen (Rehoboth Half)

Then home to J and my sweet boy:

 

 

great race, great company, great brunch, great day. I heart racing.

 

 

overall: 353/ 2953
age group: 22/ 335