Hamilton YMCA Spooky Tails & Trails 5K

Time - 20:36
Pace - 6:38
Runners - 125
Place - 7
Age Place - 1st
Heart Rate Average - 155
HR peak - 166


Since I didn't run last weekend I was looking for a race this weekend but I needed it be to be close since I didn't feel like traveling more than 30 minutes. I also wanted to set up a RWTV5K table to encourage runners to sign up for my race next week. My choice was the Spooky Tails & Trails 5K in Hamilton, a race I have run before. I ran it 2008 with Dale and Blaze. It is a small race held in Veterans Park with a nice course. They also have a dog costume contest after the race which is kind of cute.

Some of the runners were in costume since it was the day before Halloween. Flash was there and he certainly was the odds on favorite, because he was Flash.

I was planning on going hard since my knee was feeling better and I figured I could place in the top ten. Weather was a bit chilly, first real cold morning of the fall race season, but short sleeves were still in order.

My first mile was 6:34 and I didn't feel like I was going hard which gave me a bit of confidence going into the 2nd mile. I kept hearing about a hill but I didn't remember a hill so I kept pushing the pace. There was one guy on my tail who kept trying to pass me but every time he got on my shoulder I pushed it harder. This became my goal for the rest of the race. I usually fade in mile two so I had to work to keep in front. The guy had a few Ironman tattoos so I was figuring he was a good runner. I hit mile marker 2 at 13:25 so I had held my pace and now just finish strong. Mister Ironman tattoo tried one more time to pass me, but it was at the hill, which was more like an incline, so I really pushed the pace. At the top of the hill I saw mile 3 so I broke out into my 50 year old sprint. I hit the tape in 20:39 which was good for 7th overall and 1st in my age group. Flash came in 2nd overall, he was beat by a high schooler.

I was happy with the results and my 5K times have been pretty consistent since the weather became cooler. Next up is my race, the 6th annual Run with the Vikings 5K.

My one critique of this race was it didn't start on time and was 15 minutes late and the raffle drawing at the end. I hate when they hold a raffle and start calling the race numbers when half the runners have left.