PREFONTAINE

I plan to run this race Sunday. http://connect.garmin.com/activity/59526777 322B151 At 1016 for 3.1 miles in 25:24 at 8:10 pace per mile.  Raining and soaked following.   (By the way the garmin data is two minutes off...finished the race and then I hit the stop button (but did not need to do that as the watch stopped itself after the race...what I actually did was restart the watch and lap 5 was a two minute lap.  Time on in garmin is 27:24 with the two minute 5th lap.) Splits: Mile 1 is 7:25 (a second off from matching my PR for the mile), and now the bad news Mile 2 is 8:52 (walked for first tenth of mile 2) and Mile 3 is 8:14 ending with 7:59 pace for last 0.11.  What happened?  Why such a mediocre performance?  Well I had about three strategies prepared.  But when I began the watch, I opted for strategy 4 - was not a very good strategy.  It was to go out fast.  When I noticed I was at 6:58 pace or so at 0.40, I thought that was pretty good.  I did wind up hitting the 7:25 pace for first mile.  But I cannot sustain this pace for 3.11.  By end 2d mile, I am at 8:08 pace per mile.  Well I could have simply run easy 8 minute miles for the first two miles and chopped off 16 seconds from this time...again...selected incorrect strategy!  Ultimately end the race with an 8:10 pace per mile. Hi Allie, had mentioned to you earlier considering doing 7:55s for first 0.9 and then "surge" for last 0.10 to bring pace to 7:45 for the mile and repeat x3...well I did not go there this race.  Still think that is a good strategy for the short 5K distance.  But I am unsure how to run the next 5K.  Going out fast is surely not the answer.  I may yet try the above strategy.  Also am considering simply attempting to keep the pace within the 7:15-7:45 range (and if run it in 7:45, the high end of the range...well still a PR!).  Ah, the lessons we learn...(I came in 408/1332).  Official Results report 25:29 for 8:12 pace per mile.   http://www.jbsports.com/cm2010res.htm     26th Annual Christopher Martins Christmas Run for Children - December 12, 2010 Place First Name Last Name Age Sex Division Gun Time Net Time City/ State 1 Stephen       Pretak             26 M M2029    16:08    16:08 New London CT         2 Daniel        Shea               37 M M3039    16:23    16:22 New Haven CT          3 Justin        Arnold             24 M M2029    16:28    16:28 New Haven CT          4 Matt          Klein              16 M M1319    16:34    16:34 Trumbull CT         405 Phil          Kenyon             55 M M5559    25:29    25:18 Canton CT             406 Mike          Rowan              32 M M3039    25:29    24:59 Norwalk CT            407 Audrey        Conklin            14 F F1319    25:30    25:12 Meriden CT            408 Patrick       Kearney            48 M M4549    25:32    25:29 Hamden CT             409 Carissa       Ekholm             26 F F2029    25:33    24:54 Putnam CT             410 Jim           Klewicki           35 M M3039    25:35    25:18 New Haven CT          411 James         Satagai            54 M M5054    25:35    25:24 Branford CT           1327 Delk          Schmid             49 F F4549    50:13    48:52 Sandy Hook CT         1328 Benjamin      Schmid-Tharnish    9 M M0012    50:40    49:19 New Haven CT          1329 Sue           Tharnish           62 F F6064    50:41    49:18 Sandy Hook CT         1330 James         McCormack          68 M M6569    51:03    49:35 West Haven CT         1331 Kevin         Donovan            41 M M4044    51:03    49:35 Hamden CT             1332 John          Discko             59 M M5559    52:18    51:39 Shelton CT                  "It's for the Children" Register now - Limited to 2,000 entries - register now the race is nearly full! This race is a runner favorite and a great start to the Holiday Season!  It is Connecticut's Best Post Race Party! Sunday, December 12, 2010 10:00 am

Our Mission - We hope to make Christmas a little brighter for needy children in the New Haven area. by giving them not only a toy, but the message of love from friends and neighbors they have never met.  Over the years, our race has given over 50,000 toys to children. The Christopher Martins Christmas Run for Children 5K is run on a out and back course which runs along State St., Orange St. and the New Haven Green.  View new course.

Entry Fee - Registration fees for this year's race are $15 in advance.  Raceday entries will not be accepted.  Participants can lower this entry fee to $5 if they donate a new unwrapped toy to the race.  You can register online or print an entry form below.  You can bring toys and applications to Christopher Martins or Trailblazer in New Haven or Branford. The race will be run in snow or rain.  Entry fees are nonrefundable. Early Packet Pickup & Registration @ Trailblazer - new        Save time and stress on race morning.  Pickup your bib, chip and t-shirt (if purchased) before the race. Trailblazer - 296 Elm St., New Haven                                                               Friday (December 10) and Saturday (December 11) - 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.

T-shirts - Long sleeve tech t-shirts with the logo above are available before the race for $15.  A limited number of t-shirts may be available on race day for $18.

B Tag Timing - this year's race features "state of the art" B tag timing.  Finish the race and you are done.  No need to return a timing chip.

Awards - A $50 gift certificate to Trailblazer given to first overall male and female finishers.  Awards given to the first three finishers in each of the following age groups (male and female):  12 and under, 13-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80+.

Volunteers - are needed.  Please call 203-481-5933.

Directions: From Hartford:    Take I-91 heading South to Exit 4.  Take a right off exit and first left onto State Street.  Christopher Martins is 50 yards on the right. From Stamford or New London:    I-95 to I-91.  Take Exit 3 (Trumbull Street) off of I-91.  Take a right off exit onto Orange Street.   Take a right at next light onto Humphrey Street.  Take right at next light onto State Street.  Christopher Martins is on the right in 100 yards.