Texas Lonestar Stampede 5k 14:56 (2nd Overall)

I had a lot of fun at this race. Some Kenyans came down from out of town and I got to race with them for a mile and a half until they put on the jets. There was a 5k and a 10k and so there was a Kenyan registered for each. Once the horn sounded we took off.

There was the 2 Kenyans and an unfamiliar face (Matt Russell, USA triathlete, ex steepler) at the front. Matt looked confident and took it out to the front. A high schooler who I have been seeing at the last few races Carlos Arias was right behind them and then me. We were all tightly bunched together. The first mile was pedestrian (for Kenyans), about 5 minutes. I was a little shocked it was so slow. I mean, we have local guys here, including myself that take it out faster than that the first mile. Evidently the Kenyans were toying around for about another half a mile and then started to accelerate to about 4:45 pace. By then Matt dropped off, and shortly after that Carlos dropped back. I hung on for a little longer but slowly but surely they put about 15 seconds on me for the second mile.

The third mile I was by myself for a while but I could still see the Kenyans in front of me. I ran as hard as I could but I wasn't hurting too bad which was shocking. I then started to hear some foot steps and hard breathing behind me. I though it was Carlos. As we headed toward the last .1 I had finished my last mile in 4:52 but the guy behind me was gaining on me. I looked back and it was Matt Russell. Somehow he got his second wind and was trying to track me down. I waited and looked back and he had put on the jets sensing weakness. Fortunately I had plenty of sprint left and regained some of the lead I had lost and ended up finishing 3 seconds ahead. The time was awesome as I finished in 14:56. Matt finished in 14:59 and the top Kenyan, Kiplagat finished in 14:31.

The Garmin says it was 3 miles but whatever. It was a road race and these things happen. It was a USATF certified course but it must have been closer to 3 miles than 3.1. Whatever the real length of the course was, it doesn't matter because I'm in pretty good shape.