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Race Result

Racer: Shawn Clark
Race: Cherry Blossom 10 Miler
Date: Sunday, April 6, 2008
Location: Washington, DC
Race Type: Run - 10 mile
Age Group: Male 30 - 34
Time: 1:17:12
Age Group Place: 245 / 1010



Race Report:



This is my favorite race in the DC area and I'm not even sure why but I absolutely love it. This year, even with the 180 degree turns, which I didn't care for, it was still fantastic.

The night before I had my normal 6 pack and tequila to wash down my pasta dinner and went home to get some rest. At 2 Am I woke up convinced that I was late and that Dave was going to be mad so I got up and started getting ready. I finally woke up for real and realized what was going on, scolded myself for being so stupid and hopped back down on the couch for some more sleep; all the while the dog was staring at me like I was losing my mind.

5 rolls around and I get up for real this time, gather my belongings, have a quick breakfast and coffee, scratch the dog for good luck and hit the door. I arrive at the OK corral right on time and soon Reid, Dave and I are on the way courthouse metro/Four Courts parking.

I was in the Red corral which was behind them so off I went to line up with my people, the slower people. The corral was started and 27 seconds later I crossed the start line...slowly.

The mob was pretty big and I really couldn't get around it at this point, but I told myself to use this time to get good and warmed up; eventually the race had to open up. The first mile was 8:00+ which was truly ok with me as last year I had done 82 minutes and I thought that was a fine goal this year too considering I didn't run for two months while nursing a stress fracture back in November and December.

The miles just kept ticking by and I kept telling myself to slow down, and I'd try, really try but I felt great and something always made me speed right back up, maybe a person ran by with Triathlon shirt "can't let Him/Her beat me", or "I gotta take advantage of this downhill," which was laughable cuz most of it was downhill, whatever the reason, I ran the whole race telling myself to slow down and never did. I finished in 1:17 which was about 7:44/mi pace. A 5 minute PR and the best part was my workout for the day was over and I was able to enjoy some Guinness at four Courts with friends. Ahh...Life is grand...

I know it's still a long way off from where I need to be speed-wise, but I'm happy with the improvements, I'm happy I felt strong the whole race, I'm happy that even in an obsessive sport like triathlon I can find drinking buddies, of course it's strange when we get a to a bar as it opens versus staying until it closes but whatever it is still a grand life.

Shawn