RITA Cash in the Spring 5K

Hot weather and high humidity dampened our Saturday morning at the RITA Cash in the Spring 5K. It was not an ideal day for racing but Dad and I stuck to the plan. After a big PR day for both of us last week at the Run for Cover 5K, we figured that we could possibly shave a few seconds off those times. We had trained hard on downtown bridges and in our speedwork with the Jacksonville Track Club during the week to prepare for this race. The race course started with runners going out a mile then coming back towards the start and doing another loop before finishing. My game plan was to run a faster first mile than usual and keep with the pace for two more miles. The plan didn't work. I went out on an average first mile in 6:35, with Dad following behind me in 6:45. The sun was beating down on us and was unforgiving and the humidity was oppressive. Dad even considered dropping out of the race! Dad caught up to me (gasping and wheezing) by the middle of the 2nd mile, which I clocked in at 14:20, a slower time than the norm. I didn't have much of an urge to push at the end since I didn't see any runners near me in my age group. I finished by dodging walkers at the end who still had a lap to go (one walker finshed instead completing another lap). My final time was 22:44, my 3rd slowest time in 2008 and slowest time in 3 months. My dad beat me by his biggest margain in 2008 in a time of 22:05, his 2nd fastest time this year. The race had about 350 participants and I received another plaque for placing 1st in my age group. Dad is still bitter about his 4th place finish in his age group (despite finishing in the top 15% of the field), but it gives him more incentive to train more. All in all, a sucessful day for both of us. So long and keep running!