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The Good Animal is a blog devoted to the richness of life achieved through physical exertion. Being a good animal is being an active animal. Happiness is not a thought; it is an action. Active animals are happy, content and fulfilled by doing what they were created to do. The mind loves action as much as the body. It is toned and shaped by it. Thoughts become clear, solid and crystal during physical activity. The spirit comes stronger, lighter and more resilient. Welcome fellow animals.

Tuesday, May 29, 2007

Saddleback Memorial 5K 2007




















Tristan, Rick and I arrived at the starting line with plenty of time. Tristan seemed relaxed and ready to go. We stretched and tried to stage as much as possible. It was a smaller race.

Neither Tristan or I have ever run a 5k, so I was feeling just a little bit of jitters myself. This would be over before I knew it. It was not the long drawn out battle of a marathon, but I wondered if I had the speed. Could I push a new rhythm for this race. I knew the marathon and the half marathon have different paces, so I imagined this one did, too. I thought it would be like a 2 minute punk song--manic and over before you knew it. What I got was something else.

Tristan, once the pack opened just slightly, kicked up his pace. He was flying the first mile. He was running at a lower six minute pace. He was pouring it on; I had a hard time keeping up with him. We lost Rick quickly. The two of us ran side by side. He pushed forward. Occasionally, he wanted to know how far we went. I kept him update. Mile One, Mile Two. It wasn't until after mile 2 that he started to really slow down. He developed a side cramp about mile 2.5 in.

We slowed our pace a bit and then tried to get back to our previous pace. We pushed hard. Trist was shot; still he worked. When I told him to push it, he told me to be quiet. He knows when he has had enough.

At the end, he finished 6th in the 12 and under group. I was 21st in mine. Rick was 19th in his.

Tristan and I finished side by side at 23:06.

Our pace was 7:26 minutes/mile.

We were the 202 and 203 finishers (the 141 and 142 males)


The day was cool--really perfect weather for a run. The event was fantastic and had a hometown feel. Good fast course--mostly downhill--through Laguna Woods. Definitely a race for next year.

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