Runner's Den Classic 10k

I finished and I lived to tell the tale. I thought this was my 45th road race, but looking back on my logs, it is only my 43rd! I have two more coming up on 2/11 and 2/12- Year of the Dog 5k and Character Challenge 6k, respectively, and then I'll have 45.

The race went well. I finished iin 1:14:51 with 12:04 splits. However, this was slow enough for me to finish dead last in my age group! Slowpokes just don't run 10k's. I have noticed this as a pattern. People who do 13-15 minute miles are drawn to 5k's and half-marathons. Anyway, I was about 4 minutes slower than the 2005 Runner's Den Classic, and about 6 minutes off my 10k PR, which is 1:08:20 (Foothills 10k, which comes up on 2/19).

I felt strong throughout the race. I tried to maintain an even pace but I felt like I was too close to the edge at mile 5.3 or so and I backed off considerably for a count of 200. I don't know what I am afraid of. I guess it would be that I could not sustain that pace to the end. But I picked it back up and continued. I think I need to practice pushing my body in these shorter races. What's the worst that could happen?

Foot felt okay. A little bit of symptoms at mile 4 but only briefly and it was not pain, just tingling. I did feel the bruising on my foot though. But it wasn't painful, just sore.

Note: get my watch fixed because the split callers were totally off!