Great Training Week!

I do not think I could have asked for a better week.
Monday, I put in 9 600 m runs at a 5:25 pace.
Tuesday, I bagged my first 20 miles in 2:27-taking it pretty easy, and with only 2 gus.
Wednesday, still had the legs to put in an easy 6 miles.
Thursday, 8 miles in 50 minutes.
Friday, just a few runs to loosen up for Saturday.
Saturday, a 17:44 5k. Thats not bad at all after a pretty decent week, oh yeah, and I won the thing!!
Sunday, 6.5 miles on the trail at 5:50 pace. Very happy!
Planning a Tuesday run for 15-18 miles, we will see.
So here is the recap to the Forrest Spence 5k.
It is run at Overton Park in Midtown Memphis, where we now live, and is actually a little more hilly than most 5k courses you come in contact with in this area. At the start, I realized the two guys I have finished third behind the last two years at this race were not there, blessings. No, this does not de-legitimize my win, have to be present, and half of winning is showing up, so there, clear conscience.
There was a guy there who I know finished either right ahead of me, or right behind me at Harbortown.
The gun went off and he and I were quickly at the front, and in a matter of about 400 m were by ourselves. I asked his name, and we remembered each other, and he had in fact finished behind me at Harbortown. Great. This is what I need, a guy with a vendetta. Generally in most races, I am in the lead pack through a mile or so, that is no biggie, but me and this guy were the pack, and at this point it may of well been the Olympics or some high stakes race to me. I was wanting it really badly.
Hence my log in name at RunnersWorld,outway2fast, we crossed the mile side by side at 5:21 or so.
The course turns uphill as you go beside the Brooks Museum of Art, and while I considered pushing the pace at this point, I held back, and I think we both slowed a little, I knew the two places where I would want to test the waters were coming, so I saved energy because he was not doing anything special either. A hard right is at the top of the hill followed by a decent downhill towards an incredibly steep short 75 m uphill between the Museum and the Levitt Shell. This is where my first push came, and I drove it up the hill. He did as well, and he pushed pretty hard. As I crested the top, I noticed he was not directly behind me anymore, but very quickly he was back on the downhill, and he edged by, and I could tell he was picking the pace back up. I slipped behind him to see what he had, and as soon as he knew he had the lead from me, he slacked off, that was all I needed.
As we turned back into the park and went up the last significant hill, which is long and winding, and would take us past the two mile, I punched it, and very quickly was all alone, no foot steps anywhere. Just the guys on bicycles ahead of me.
Oh the freaking pressure of leading a race. I have only been in this position a few times. I have several CC victories and several track victories, but only one road race victory, so you can see where the sense of unease comes in.
As we come off that hill and turn to wind back towards the finish, you actually pass the spot where the finish is, turning left to make a big loop. There was a big crowd there, and I listened to when the cheering would resume as second place passed by. It was much longer than I expected. With no one bearing down, I just maintained and settled down during the last 3/4 of a mile. I turned behind once with about a 1/4 of mile and knew I had about 20 seconds on second place, and just kept plugging.
Someone who I was telling about the race Sunday night made me really appreciate this next and final part of the race. I crossed the line, arms raised, and broke the tape. Mary Margret, the person I was telling, told me that is something she will never be able to do in her life, and from that point on, a brand new appreciation for winning a road race.
So that was it, a win, really nice hardware, and 35,000 raised for a great cause. Perfect lift as the miles go up and I plan possibly another 20 miler this week.
68 days and counting until New York, Sub 2:40? We'll see.