My first competitive run since the 5K in December was the Harold Chapson 8K, part of the three race Great Aloha Run Readiness Series. Like the Sylvia A. Martz 5K, it starts and ends at Kapi’olani Park in Waikiki on O’ahu; unlike the SAM’s 5K, it’s not all flat.

In fact, it was rather hilly.

I had high hopes that I would be able to crack the 11 minute per mile pace on this run. I’ve been right there on my training runs of three or so miles, and I was just above 11 minutes per mile at the SAM’s 5K last month.

This time, a couple of my Twitter friends, @alohajohn (who had run the 5K last month) and @pineapplejuice (a many time marathoner who was out injured for a bit), also ran the race. They, as expected, were faster than I am, but the only person I’m ever racing is me.

Even with my heart rate monitor, I started out too fast, and the hills took their toll. I insisted on trying to keep myself running hard throughout, even to the point where my heart rate was near my maximum for the last 1/4 of the race, which could have cost me a minute or two.

In the end, I finished fifth out of sixth in my age/gender category–which is fine with me–and a pace of 11:29/mile.

I want to cut some off of that time, but considering it was my first timed race with hills since I started a new training program, I’m fine with that.
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