5th Avenue S{Mile}

"I saw a rainbow stretched across the ocean,crashed the big apple.

So I took a bite,found a taste I like but she bit me back

I jumped across the ocean found a big apple

So I took a bite,she teased me w/ a taste laid my soul to waste"

New York City- The Cult

They say,"to the victor go the spoils"and while I came up short in my quest for a third victory in four years I did win my second 45-49 title in two years,AND meet Shannon Rowbury post race so it wasn't all bad!!

Now that the dust has settled on the 2010 5th Avenue Mile I can be a tad more objective than I was Sunday when the sting of defeat was still there,I went to Manhattan on Sunday w/ one goal, win the 40-49 race,I had to settle for 4th but won the 45-49,here's how it played out.

Having learnt a vital lesson in Sacramento I knew not to overlook anyone but I figured my biggest threat was my team mate Nick Berra,World and National Champion and the man who has erased my club records at 800m,1,500m and the mile{although I still for now own the mile road record,for how much longer remains to be seen....either Nick will take it or I'll lower it}

However knowing Nick had been injured since the Track Pentathlon six weeks ago there was an air of will he/won't he race leading up to the event,I had two race tactics in place if he made up to Manhattan and also various race plans if he didn't.

The trick w/ 5th Avenue Mile is getting a good start,there were close 400 runners in the 40-49 age group so positioning at the start was key,I was tucked in behind Nick w/ last years winner Matt Chaston as we made our way down 5th Avenue from 79th st.

I was into my stride early and pulled up along side Matt b4 easing by him and into the lead,I was shooting for 64 seconds at 400m but saw 63 on the pace car as I passed the 400m marker.

The next quarter has a slight uphill and saw 2.13,a 70 second quarter in 08 I'd gone 64-64 for 2.08.

As I crested the top of the incline and began the downward third quarter I felt strong but I also knew I had a target on my back,I sensed Nick trying to pull level w/ me but managed to keep him at bay....for now.

3.18 at 1,200m a 65 second quarter,Nick made another surge and this time I couldn't hold him off,my hope that a fast race may unhinge him and his hamstring wasn't to be,my plan b had been to sit behind the leader/leaders until the final quarter and then go for broke a tactic Nick had deployed very nicely.

I never saw the 1,500m split as I was holding on for dear life w/ the finish line getting closer first Kent then Matt went by me in the final 100m,I was paying for that opening 63 second quarter.

4th in 4.27,a 68 second final quarter and a 2.13-2.14 split,I was pissed,as I've said several times b4 when adopting the run from the front tactic"live by the sword,die by the sword"it worked in 08 but I came up short today.

While there's little or no disgrace being beaten by guys 5,4 and 3 years younger than me the fact of the matter was I didn't wake up Sunday morning and say"I'm running for 4th" I wanted to win and while the 45-49 age group victory is something, I'd have felt a lot better if I'd won the whole race.

Post race I finally caught up w/ my friend Lara aka Nyfly Girl,we've been reading one anothers blogs for just over a year now,we missed each other at Icahn a few times this summer and didn't run into each other at Flushing Meadows during our visit to the US Open so it was good to actually meet and say hi,Lara congratulated me on my race and I wished her all the very best in Chicago in two weeks time for the Chicago Marathon.

Joined Francis and Kent in a gentle seven mile cool down which included two loops of the Central Park Reservoir b4 making our way back to the finish line to catch the elite races Shannon edged Sara Hall and Erin Donohue while in the men's Amine Laalou pipped Lagat and Baddley.

As of yet I've still to watch the race on the NYRRC feed,from what I gather from those who've seen it I'm refereed to as "a character" several times during the race,I guess that's a compliment.

So one down,one to go Syracuse and the Masters Road Race 5k C'ships this Sunday,here's hoping lessons learnt from last year and Sunday pay off.