I'm kinda blown away - just completed the Rockville Centre 10K Race (Results) in 53:18, representing a PR by more than 4 1/4 minutes. Admittedly, the conditions were cool, brisk and dry - but that kind of improvement is, well frankly amazing. It’s hard to tell how fast I am going while in the thick of things and only when I pass the mile markers do I get a sense of my pace. At mile one I was doing an 8:48, very fast for me particularly early on. I seemed to maintain that pace and when I got to mile 4, I was at 34:56 or 8:44 - I knew then I was going to PR as long as I did not crash. I figured I could take it easy for mile 5 and push it thereafter. Down the stretch I kicked and ended up with a pace of 8:35, a pace I don’t achieve in 5K races. A VERY satisfying race!

Yesterday was bargain day – got 2 pairs of Mizuno Alchemy Wave 6 running shoes for $99.90; no shipping fee. I should be set for a long time.

Watching the NYC Marathon last week was so exciting! They had ideal weather conditions! I watched on TV the women’s start; then went out for a 7 mile run and when I returned home, watched the women’s and men’s finishes. There is something so inspiring and magical about the NYC Marathon!

The day before I was on the treadmill in the gym watching the men’s Olympic trials, running with elites, virtually – it was so cool. I was dismayed and saddened, like most of the running community, to learn when I got home that Ryan Shay, collapsed and died. Such a tragedy for this 28 year old, newly-wed, elite runner with so much life ahead of him.