racing

I have raced three times now. I have ran three different distances, and over three different terrains.
Race 1.
This race was ran in a park. We had to run three loops. We ran a smaller loop about 720 meters, then two large loops, about 1350 meters. This race was held on new years eve. I had spent the last week running solo, because of Christmas, so it was nice to get into a race that I could at least run with people.
Being that that was my first race in Prague I had no idea how it would go. Are the runners going to start fast, is there anyone really good here, or are they going to start slow? We started at a normal pace, we ran on the paved paths and no kids just ran as hard as they could for the first part. The start went uphill. Shortly there were about 4 of us in the lead pack. I felt good, nice a relaxed. I was also feeling good about there being others there to race. Then we went down hill. Oh my! These guys took off going down the hill. This was no easy down, for you Berry folks, it would be like going down the goat backwards near the reservoir. Thankfully the race was not all down, and the down part of this hill lasted about 50 meters. Shortly I was back with the leaders, we finished loop one and went off to the big loop.
This loop was interesting, we ran up a little more this time and I noticed that the other guys had a little trouble keeping the pace. I took this as a good thing, especially since the race finished right after a solid climb. As we descended the back part of the park there were people still using the park for walking there dogs, and oh, how the Czech love their dogs. The four of starting down came up a group of walkers. Just as we got to them the dog decided that it would cross the path. Two of the guys got tangled up in the mess. As the other guy and I, who did not get tangled, knew this was not their fault we eased up a little and we all regrouped.
Once again these guys took off going down the rest of the hill and I was left in the back just hanging on. I knew my time was coming. We came to the hill, this time going up it. I stayed steady going up and manged to take the lead, now one lap to go. We kept climbing and I knew that I would need to put a little on the others before that downhill part. I kept pushing. Once I reached the top I could no longer hear anyone behind me. I hit the downhill part and pushed there too, knowing that the other guys will be able to roll. No one caught me, I ran the last up and finished out front. Ran a 10:41.
Race 2.
There is not as much to say about this race because I was using it as a workout. The night before I had also ran a 10 600's at a solid pace. This race was a combination of icy roads, and snow covered trails. It was about -12 C, or 10 F making it the coldest race that I have ever ran in. During the warm up I lost the feelings in my toes.
Before starting I saw the shoes that the other people wore. They all wore either spikes short ones of course, or orienteering shoes, which have small spikes in them. Oh great, I am here in racing flats.
The gun goes off and my feet are just slipping from under me. I feel like a cartoon that is getting ready to run fast, like the road runner, except I am not going to bolt off and leave a cloud of dust. All the other runners are gone, even the 80 year guys who run the same pace all day.
I got going and started to pass some people. As we made our way to the woods I got myself up to the 3rd position, and I was gaining on the leaders. Then we get to the woods, and oh my, they took off going up the hill. I got to the trail and prepared myself, and once again I started to slip.
For the rest of the race I slipped from one side of the trail to the other, then the same thing on the road. I finished the race in 5th place in a time 35:50.
Race 3.
First indoor race of the year. 2K, on a soft track. This track is a 20 minute slow jog from my house.
I arrived and found Billy with his kids. My coach told me to run a 5:40. That is 68/400. As I had thought about it before, that is the same pace that I ran my 3K best in. So I thought that it would work for the first race of the year.
I was placed in the 3rd starting position, meaning that there were two people that had entered faster times. We all got ready to start, called to the line and then the gun. Before I knew it I was running in the last position. When the gun had fired the guy next to me placed his elbow on my chest and pushed me backwards. After the race I had a really good talk with this guy, his name is Jan, and he is a high school student who wants to study chemistry.
Being in the back I was okay, but I knew that I should be up to the front. I worked my way up and within 4 laps I was up with the front guy. Now in order to run the 5:40 I needed to run each 200 in 34. When I did catch the leader settled down and took a break. Billy called the next lap in 35 and I felt the pace was going to stay that with this guy so I passed him, on the turn. From there I kept bouncing between 33 and 34. Finished the race in the front and ran a 5:39.

Overall I am happy about my racing in Prague so far.