EMBARCADERO 5K

Last weekend was my 3rd 5k race of the season. This one was back down at the Embarcadero and a similar course to the Waterfront 5k that I ran back in March. After the very slow time I ran 2 weeks ago, due to the hilly course in the Presidio, I rebounded nicely with my fastest time of the year so far, breaking 21 minutes. My time, 20:46, was actually my 2nd fastest 5k ever, only bettered by the 20:09 I ran a few years back. Out of 111 runners I finished 20th overall and 5th in my age group (30-39). Next race is 5/6.

EASTER ROLLER COASTER 5K

So my second 5k race of the season was last weekend. As the name of the race implies, the course was really hilly, and like riding on a roller coaster, I sort of felt like puking at the end. The course started at the west end of Mountain Lake Park before moving along the south edge of the Presidio golf course, up to the Presidio gate on Pacific Avenue before turning around and returning the same way. The first 50 or so yards that I could see from the starting line looked easy enough but I knew I was in for it when the race director described at the start, "We go up a hill and then down and then up another hill and then turn around and return. It's really tough." That was an understatement. The series of 4 hills kicked my butt. Below are the official results. Out of 111 runners I finished 35th overall and 9th in my age group (30-39). My time was actually about 3 minutes slower than my first race back in the beginning of March. So that wasn't entirely encouraging but I chalk that up more to the course than my conditioning. Or at least I hope. We'll find out at the next race which looks like will be on 4/22.