Run a 5k in less than 30 minutes

I finished my race on much better time than I had hoped for.

Last month before the race I was traveling and didn’t get to run much, ate too much, and drank way too much vodka and beer. Had only 3-4 days to get in shape and give the liver a short rest.

Just over half way through I thought I spotted a dunkin donuts, which meant that there is only some 5-600 yards to go, and I started my finishing kick. Flew by a bunch of people, but as I came closer, it turns out it was a convenience store, and I had no idea how much longer to goal. So I had to let all those folks pass me again.

I recovered and managed a decent finish, and my end time was 25 frikkin minutes and 45 wee seconds. Far out.

My friend who was shooting for closer to 20 minutes came it at 21 minutes and change, but he must have lost at least 30 seconds because they bungled the start. They race announcer said 3 minutes to start, but only 1 minute later the starter said ready steady go, so my friend who was not at the start line yet, had to bob and weave his way through the slow part of the field the first quarter mile or so.

Did a run of 6.7 miles saturday, my longest ever, and passed the 10k mark at 1 hour 4 minutes. This was a bit hilly and most of it on firm dirt loop. Next day did a one mile time trial of 7m35s, much better than I expected. Had to struggle hard to survive last 400 meters in style, so now I know what 7.35 pace feels like. Maybe next year.
There is also a 2 mile time trial in the program, as well as a 5k test race.
Have lost 3 pounds, down to about 202.
Having monday off from running, after the weekend’s monster workouts.

I can now comfortably run 4+ miles at about 10 minute/mile pace,
and I can do 400m interval runs at 7 minute pace. So for my first 5K race, which is a whole month away, I am going to shoot for 28:30. If I can lose some more weight before the race, maybe even 28 minutes or better.

So unless I choke, this one is virtually in the bag.