but a good one.  The conditions would have been ideal if it weren't for that shifty wind.  It made it just a little too cold and it seemed to be blowing in my face at every turn.  There were really only a few spots where I can remember feeling a tailwind.  Overall I was extremely happy with how I ran today.

A few of the mile markers may have been off a bit, so here are the splits:

1) 6:01 (maybe a little long) 2) 5:38 (definitely short) 3) 5:58, 4) 6:04, 5) 6:00, no marker at 6? so 6 and 7 together were 11:59, 8) 6:04, 9) 5:51, 10) 5:48 = 59:28 This was a huge PR for me, my previous best was 1:02:11 (set in 2005 at the same race.)

I tried to run an even pace, but I was a little worried when I went through 5 in 29:43, just a few months ago I had never run five miles in under thirty minutes.  Unfortunately I ran most of the race totally alone.  After the lead pack, everyone was pretty strung out.  From mile 3 on I was solo, so I had to push myself.  I guess my training is paying off though, I was kind of surprised that I still had gas in the tank to pick it up for the last two miles.  Down the home stretch I had to really push with everything I had to pass Joe Donahue, I was tailing him for most of the race, I can still barely believe I caught him in the end. 

Joe and I were first and second for the Shore AC team.  I'm not sure how we did as a team, the competition was serious today, I came in 20th and was third in my age group and third for my age group for the USATF-NJ 10 mile championship.  The winner ran 53:?? FAST!  Top 23 guys were all under an hour!

Its always a great feeling when a race turns out the way you envisioned in your head, todays was even slightly better, I cant believe I broke 60 minutes!!  As long as I can keep it together for the next few weeks, this is a good omen for the Long Branch Half. 

Total for the week: 50
         for the  year: 536