I'm Faster, and Didnt Know It!!

Well, let me just give you the short and dirty. Ran the Race 4 The Cure in Detroit today. Haven't run a fast race since the Winter Blizzard 5k!! This race is a yearly tradition for me. But the prices are just rising and rising. If they raise it anymore, I wont be doing it. Plus its not even a chip race!! I understand its for a cause, but c'mon!! U make over a million dollars and cant get a cheap chip (at least at the finish)??

I got a sufficient warm-up. Didnt really feel in tip top shape. I did a VERY easy 4.5 miles yesterday at a tortoise 8:45 pace, because I hadnt run in 3 days. I didnt start at the front like I said I would, and of course the walkers were up there. I did some strides before the start just to see who was in the front line... kids ( I mean pre-teens ), fatboys, severe elderly, fuel-belters... WTH??? The start was very uneventful. I did the usual duck and dodge for the first half mile, but decided to run to the outside (slightly off the course, but a strait-a-way) to avoid the crowds. This course was flat as a pancake with a few turns. My goal was to run even splits, because I have a tendency to take off too fast, so I conciously kept it in check.

It was sorta windy, but no too much. I drafted a few people, but that's hard for me to do being 6'1". There were times where I wanted to just stride out and get lazy, but I kept saying "leg turnover leg turnover". I was told that I STILL looked like I was jogging out there. Hmm... here comes that recurring theme again... speedwork!!! I felt that the entire race was an even effort. Was a little winded, but not exhausted. Made the final turn and it was a sprint to the finish. I passed 3 people, got comfy, and then a guy crept from behind and passed me before I could react. He better not be the person to bump me from placing!! LOL. This race was a good confidence booster, as I have not PR'd in almost 2 years at this distance. My splits are as follows:

Mile 1 6:43
Mile 2 6:45
Mile 3 6:47
last 0.1 (forgot to stop Garmin)
Unofficial time of 20:54 per Garmin, so that's what I'm rolling with and a NEW PR!!!!!!!

1 PR down, 3 to go (10k, 10 mile, half) and I run on...