I have to say I kicked some major butt in Bernies Memorial today, despite the fact I’ve been real sore up until now. I’m liable to be real sore tomorrow … however I came in 80th place with an official time of 20:19 … you heard it, 20:19. Thats over a minute faster than last year, and it sure felt like it!

There was a little added motivation in the last mile due to the continuing saga of the guy I just don’t like. If you’ve been reading the blog, you’ll remember from both the Valley Great 8 and from the Old Fort 5 miler on Memorial Day, the guy who rips off his shirt, makes his way to the immediate front of the start, acts as if he is just ‘the thing’ … well, he was there today. It seems he ran a little faster than normal because I didn’t catch him until 2.5 miles in .. yep, almost didn’t catch him. I was thinking about the fact I hadn’t seen him at around mile 1.5, thinking maybe he improved, but as I thought, he died. I just HATE guys that think they are the shit, showing off and all … and then can’t keep the pace. When I passed him on the corner of main street, he was dying, totally dying. I managed to pull a 6:40 mile the last mile just to beat him. I saw him at mile 2 in the distance and didn’t think i’d pull it out, but I did. It felt SO GOOD to beat him again, what a loser. I don’t pretend to be anything great, because I consider myself an average runner, and i start in the middle of the pack where I belong and don’t show off. I just run a smart race.

For anyone reading out there, don’t act like something you’re not, because you really look foolish. Everybody has their own pace and ability, and some try to go above it, and just shouldn’t. Stick to what you know, and the way you are comfortable, and be accepting of where it is you fit in …

Anyway, my splits for the race are:

Mile 1 – 6:45
Mile 2 – 6:51
Mile 3 – 6:40 (awesome, just awesome)

Amazing, I can’t believe I broke a 7 minute mile for 3 miles in a row …. I can tell the training has paid off. I don’t have anymore specific races left, however i’m considering the Philadelphia distance run in September as the Steamtown primer … guess we’ll see though.

Happy 4th of July to anybody reading!