5K

Today's race in Golden Gate Park went more slowly than I'd have liked. Slowing by sixteen seconds in the 5K between June 20th and July 4th didn't bother me, but adding an additional minute and fifteen seconds to that time is a warning sign.

It's easy to guess why I might be slowing. I had an entire week between races and I didn't get out on the road once. I know I said that I had to cut back and take it easy to avoid injury, but I think cutting back to zero might have been taking it too far.

I couldn't have asked for a nicer day for a race. The sun was shining but it wasn't too hot, even considering the relatively late race start of 9:45 am. The race course takes advantage of the street closures for the Alameda Independence Day Parade and the runners start fifteen minutes before the parade follows.

I think I have injured myself. Strangely enough, I seem to run fastest when I'm in pain.

I have top-of-the foot pain and knee pain, in my left foot and left knee. Sometimes I'm walking with a pronounced limp. This is not how it's supposed to be, but here's what I believe is the strange part: it doesn't hurt when I run.

It was a gorgeous day here in San Francisco. 70 degrees and only a few wispy clouds. A perfect day for my return to organized races at the DSE Runners Mission Bay 5K.

We had a great turnout due in part to a convention in town. I don't think I've ever seen so many people at a DSE event, but I haven't been running for almost three years so maybe the club has gotten more popular while I've been away. There were a lot of people in the race from out of town and from out of the country, so I suspect that the convention had something to do with it.