Millburn Presidents Cup Run - 2014

One of the traditions of summer is the Millburn Presidents Cup 5-K, held annually on the third Monday of June. An 8 p.m. start, with a featured Sam Adams truck afterward, it draws a crowd of well over 1,000, including many of the best runners from all over New Jersey. In it's 35th edition, I've probably run it a dozen times, and I usually have a pretty good effort. It's easy to run hard with the evening start, great competition, and energy from the spectators along Millburn Avenue and Main St., in the leafy Essex County suburb. This was my first race since the Long Branch Half in late April. My Runbayou.com V-Dot calculation predicted a 20:36 for me, and that was my goal. I crowded near the front, but the start was it's usual tangle of arms and feet. I almost tripped once, and accidently elbowed one other person. It took about 400 meters to clear up, but the whole race you are around someone, which does more good than bad. I try to go out pretty hard in the first mile of a 5-K, figuring to save some seconds while I'm fresh, have that "money in the bank," and also improve my position in the race, which helps keep you motivated. As I'm getting older, though, I am missing a fith gear, and my all-out first miles are slower than I'd like. This was no exception, as I was disappointed to crest the incline near the end of mile one and see "6:35" on the clock, when I was expecting to see "6:20." The good thing is, I felt strong at that point, and the second mile is mostly flat to downhill. I put the "no one passes you" sign in my brain, and started picking off people. I didn't know what to expect at mile two, but was pleased to see a 13:05. One more hill up Millburn Ave. on the third mile. I stayed mentally into it, and took advantage of a late water stop to dump some ice-water over my head with about a half-mile to go. I continued to pass people until the crest of the hill, but I started really running out of gas by that point. I almost stumbled over a couple of potholes, which made my form (which was falling apart, anyway!) even worse. I also (in my slightly delusional state) misjudged the finish line, and started sprinting all-out about 200-yards earlier than I should. After my second near-fall, I had images of Joe Frazier wilting in the 14th round in Manila! When the finish line clock appeared, finally, by the MIllburn Fire Dept. headquarters, I kept my form together for the last few yards and finished in a clock time of 20:30, and chip time of 20:25, slightly faster than my V-Dot prediction. I relaxed with my parents, brother and niece afterward, and downed a few slices of whole-whaet pizza and beet salad. A grueling abut satisfying night, and a good start to summer!