Okay, I finished the 5km race in 27:10. I improved my time by 2m48s compared to my race in November when I ran the 5k in 29:58. It wasn't quite the 3+ minute improvement I was looking for, but it was close and so I guess I can't be too disappointed.
The race was on a 1km cinder track which was a bit narrow in spots which I really didn't care for. There might have been about 100 runners and the track was definitely crowded for the first 400m.
The winner ran it in 16m10s which I believe is quite fast. I knew I was going to get lapped once or twice, but I wasn't expecting it to happen so soon (at the 1.4km mark and again at 2.8km). There was also a young boy, maybe he was 13 or 14, and he wasn't too far off of the leaders
The finish line had a narrow chute for the finishers leaving the majority of the track for runners who had more laps to go. There was a lady runner just in front of me at the finish line and so I slowed down to avoid forcing an accident, and in the process I got pipped at the line by another runner. I really wish they had left more space for the finish line because it would have been a close finish for the three of us.
My wife was waiting at the finish line and asked if I was alright. She later said she thought she might need to call an ambulance because I looked distressed. I was totally fine, just a little exhausted after the race.
There was watermelon given out after the race, and they were also offering free beer too, but I passed on the beer. I would have liked to have stayed a bit longer for the awards, but the wife had an errand to run and so we left early.
Overall, it was a good experience. It's nice to meet up and run in a group of people who are trying to improve their fitness by competing in races, and while it may be gruelling during the race, it sure feels good afterwards.
I'd rather eat vegan and look like a tree than eat cow and look like a pig.
SW...225 (Jun 12, 2012)
GW1..175 (Mar 22, 2013)
CW...167
GW...155