Bit of a Delay...

Okay, a lot to cover here, as I have been a bit lazy with the writing...sorry all, well all like 4 of you who read this :)

Firecracker...well firecracker was interesting. If you are just someone on the outside of running, who does not set really high goals, like I do, then you will think I did great.
My goal was a top ten finish, and hopefully, that elusive sub 17 minute 5k. Well it was basting out there, and from the start, I knew that my best bet was to simply stay with a front pack and to see what I could do through the finish. The race started with the same fanfare it does every year. A big American flag for us to run under, and the national anthem blaring, we lined up.
The Firecracker doubles as the TN state road championship for 5k, so the start is obscene, and in the past I have been part of that obscenity, but I am maturing as a runner, so not this time.
One guy went out and I think his first split was roughly 4:50, I went out in just under 5:20 which felt really controlled. I was in a trailing pack of the main pack , and happy with where I was. I felt good, and as my friend Ben, who won the race, passed me by, I was able to let him know that I thought the guy who was leading was going to fade, which he did, and so I was helpful.
Then something weird happened, that has never happened to me before. At just past a mile, I began to cramp in my abs. I knew it then, I was dehydrated. Never has happened. Just hasnt, since high school. It had been a long day, and we had walked a Fourth of July Parade in the heat, and I think that was the culprit. But I began to hurt, my legs felt good, but my stomach was killing me.
I slowed a small bit, and decided to just hold whatever that pace was. I actually caught a few people, but was also passed by a couple. There is one significant hill, and I thought that if I got over the hill I would make it. I did, and was able to pick things up coming down. I came out to where the was roughly half a mile left, and looked at my watch, I was going to have to dig, and dig hard to break 18. Break 18! Serously!? So I picked it up, and made the final turn with the finish line and finish line clock. I lowered my head and simply dug. The great thing was, is that I managed to catch a couple guys at the line and move up on the overall. I crossed the line at 18:01. I was bummed, hot, and tired.
I walked away from the line and sat down, and just tried to calm down and realize, that sometimes we have bad days, and that is the truth, sometimes, we just dont run well. For over two years, I have been doing as well as I hoped, it was time for a bad day, and it happened.
Yet there were positives, apparently the heat affected everyone. I won my age group! could not believe it, but gladly took my trophy. So that is two races this summer, and two age group W's, that is pretty good I think :). Actually for my last three 5k's, that is three 1st places, just saying.
It was a great night, and lots of fun, so I will take it.
I am hitting right at 40 miles a week right now and getting runs in of at or over 10 miles a pop. Not looking for speed, it is freaking hot, but distance is beginning to ramp up, which is good.
The problems-my back. I spend generally 10 hours a day on my feet, and then I have to run, or I run before and then have to work, either way, my back gets beat up, because the floors at work are anything less than forgiving. What I would not give for an 8-5 office job! Seriously, I have a degree, someone hire me!
Thats that for now, really training is about three weeks away! the marathon is just barely over 3 months away! Woohoo!