![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb7KRaakXfe8S54N_7GZbD2ruWQQH3WOFb1T1XsPn7u-NSFHXyWzfNZxrcub_RZN4cZrkY8OcGA2Ce00-OeqMT3YJqC74xIJtUONd36zV6pDbh1krjV7Rr6Oq_Y6AbZdzGRpp78b2lvWUc/s320/eslogo.jpg)
Today I entered my first 5 kilometer race, the St. Patrick's Day Racewalks in Huntington Beach sponsored by Easy Striders Walking Club. The weather was cool and overcast--perfect for racing. Although the main event was a 20km racewalk, there were only 6 people entered for that race and about 35 for the 5km event.
I didn't make my under 30 minute 5k goal, but I wasn't expecting to do it this soon anyway. The course was an odd length loop so I couldn't really get splits that would mean anything useful so I relied mostly on the heart rate monitor to check my speed. Once I got up to 175 bpm I tried to settle into that pace. However, heart rate tends to creep up over time and as I hit 180 bpm I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to finish so I slowed down. On the last lap Ray Billig, one of the guys in my age group, passed me and I tried to stay within striking distance but on the last few hundred yards, giving it all I had left, wasn't enough to catch him.
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There I go by the lap counters, judges and official time keeper.
Here's how I did:
5 kilometers - 32:35
Pace - 6:31 min/km 10:29 min/mi
That was good enough to get 3rd place in my male, 50-59 age group--glad they didn't include the women in my division, there were some very fast 50 something women!
Here are some more photos, click on the thumbnail to see a larger version. Looks like Rosie was focusing on the geese, but my form looks fair--gee do I cross my arms in front of my chest? I'll have to work on that.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH-9o67X7EZ_1R0Xh3-WQNKiS7yOcyzGXKkpgXsbnp5Izcsqa14klJ05AE35KBiwR4bBwGM6J6lLiuium65TP6-rqCxw0qEhc6dKq4liwfC_0pJq4hjAnoZhDoMOmBR_rpbC_UK2uXv3mg/s320/st_paddy_5k_1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZoVlkCsZqJQAsClBbazCzi6cqYoWCam-7ZyC4DMqmjcCQkbyEZ7vObohrA0Y6csko8XtHDToCNmQGjMQz4jAwr6cycRS-hBnHhTRFiMNkAM2x9bmWgeilFQz22g4npUtTC1yAPQtFKQDq/s320/st_paddy_5k_2.jpg)
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In the group picture are the winners of the men's 50-59 age group, right to left.
Name Club Age Time
Alex Kazaryan WCLA 53 30:06
Raymond Billig SCW 50 32:16
Daniel Fort SCW 52 32:35
Finally, here's the metal. Green of course.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisKMFbiuQiH9Fcml-0N-xftFXYuQmP51GzGcxJzWZEm2cwsORAZiS2U6JB_xgdv5bLJ69IlzGeU7aarMbMaZdglRO1NMsVi1hIs_ksFSeSjtxDOJqNuaRuSs1gJ1ZSxxez_C95P2Aa_Nuk/s320/stpatricks_day_racewalk.jpg)
By the way, the fourth place finisher was disqualified so even if I would have walked really slow and not gotten disqualified, I still would have won third place. Next year I should do the 20 kilometer race.
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