B'nai B'rith Health Run

I pulled up to the race my traditional hour before the start gun. I had to wander around the outside of Pepper Pike Village Hall for a while until I found the right spot for bib pickup, which was in the pavilion in the park next door.

I headed over towards the start area and did something that I rarely do, which is to go out for a 1 mile warm-up jog. I ran it at an 8:40 pace. The main reason I did it was to get the extra mile I needed to get to 30 miles this week. But also, for these shorter races, I have been trying to do more active warm ups so that my heart rate doesn’t totally spike at the start of the race.

I got back to the start line with about 10 minutes to spare but then the race started 5 minutes late. Out of the gate, I felt nice and controlled and kept the pace feeling easy while still pushing on the gas. I knew that this course would have some tough climbs later.

At the start, I had tracked 6 guys ahead of me, one which I was able to pick off in the first half mile. I was then keeping my eyes on the 5 ahead of me. At mile 1, the race marshal on Kersdale Road was calling out 6:00 or so. We had a cul-de-sac for a turn around and headed back. I was able to hear that the next runner behind me hit mile 1 at 6:45, so I was feeling comfortable with my position.

I was closing the gap with one of the runners ahead of me, but biding my time. The remaining three seemed untouchable at this point.

Turning back onto Gates Mills Boulevard and heading downhill towards the turnaround back up the Gates Mills Median Pathway, I was able to see that I had a sizable lead over the next person behind me. Looking ahead, I was still gaining on the single runner ahead of me. As we climbed back up Gates Mills Boulevard, he was slowing significantly and I was able to pass him with about a half a mile left. I managed to close the gap with two of the runners ahead of me as the finish line was in sight, but I didn’t make it happen. The two of them finished 30 seconds ahead of me.

I was able to see the finish line clock when it showed 18:35, and I absolutely gunned it hoping to get under 19 but I managed 9:03, which still is a new PR by two seconds. I’m very proud of that result!

I was 5th overall and first in my age group and got to take home a nice plaque!

Overall, I'm really happy with a much better managed pace today compared to my pace yesterday. I went out of the gate feeling like I had things in control, and held on the whole way. Although this course was tougher, it felt like a much easier 19-ish minute 5K.