clock … watching time, the only true currency

Been a light training period since racing three weeks ago, so I was tentative going into this morning’s Christmas Classic races, another 1 mile race followed by a 5K a half hour later. Both races are in Golden Gate Park.

The mile is blessedly downhill most of the way — just a gentle slope up in the last quarter-mile. On this day six years ago, I ran a 4:41, finishing 18th overall (of ~140). Today, I ran a 5:05 and finished 11th overall (of ~95). So, I’ve slowed 24 seconds in six years, or 4 seconds a year. Hmmmm…

Splits I got (never saw the 1/4 mile mark):
First half mile: 2:27
1/2 - 3/4 mile: 1:16
3/4 mile - 1 mile: 1:22

The 5K felt better than the one on Thanksgiving, but the time was similar: 19:18. Six years ago, I ran an 18:41. This year, I finished 11th overall, and 2nd in the M30-39 age group. I butchered the splits, but it was close to this:

6:24 first mile (gently uphill, back over the mile course)
5:58 second mile (downhill or flat)
6:20 third mile (downhill, flat, and then uphill)
0:36 last .1 mile (uphill)

This is touted as a certified course, and it’s definitely the same one as six years ago. Despite the ups-and-downs chronicled in the splits, this is almost a complete loop, so no overall elevation change.

No more racing this year, and really nothing planned until Super Bowl Sunday.