Yesterday was the 2008 Kentucky Derby Festival miniMarathon, a 13.1-mile road running race. (As well as mine and Kelly’s 6th wedding anniversary). Kelly got me to train and run the miniMarathon last year, and it would appear that running has stuck with me – and I’m faster this year than the last! The miniMarathon follows the “Triple Crown of Running,” which consists of a 5k (3.1mi), 10k (6.2mi) and a 10 mile race, and makes a great training schedule. Below are my 2007 and 2008 race times for all four races:

So, on the whole, roughly 2% faster than last year. I didn’t crack the 25 minute 5k yet, like I’ve wanted to, but the year is still young – and I’ve dramatically improved my times at that distance. The Rodes time improved slightly, but the Papa Johns time went south just a touch. I wonder why that is? Could have just been something that day. The one thing I find interesting is that both of my miniMarathon paces are faster than my two Papa John’s times, with the two races having almost the same course. I think the faster pace time on the mini as compared to the Papa John’s and the only marginal yearly speed increase (despite me thinking that I trained better and felt better during the 2008 races) in speed this year are due to the same thing – the miniMarathon is the object of my training, and… I wanted it more last year! It’s amazing what a little inspiration can do for you.

Meanwhile, I’ve started cycling with Kelly and I’m looking forward to doing the E. P. Tom Sawyer sprint triathlon (800m swim, 14 mile bike and 5k run). It’s a fun race, despite the fact that I was really slow last year (see my results here, 15th out of 16 in the 25-29 age group).

I am happy to say that as many meetings over websites that I’ve attended in the past 10 years or so, none of them have ever been this bad. Though some have come close.