Repeats

One of the things I thought was so neat when I started running last year, and consequently reading running blogs, was how so many running bloggers would write about their "favorite" races - the local ones they run every year. Time flies, and I am now a couple months past my one-year runniversary, and since I entered about every local race less than 5 miles last summer, I'm bound to start repeating soon.
This Sunday marks my first "repeat" race, and it is a doozy. The Smuttynose/Loco Running "Will Run For Beer" 5k was one of my most miserable and most fun racing experiences. It was scorchingly hot, hilly, poorly marked, humid, and in the middle of the morning. I ran an abysmal 35:12, most of which was walking. My friend Jenna, a first-time 5ker, came in right behind me, swearing liberally. Both my brother and my friend Claire managed decent times, but we all were about to pass out at the end. Good thing there was all that refreshing, frosty beer for us to rehydrate ourselves with. And karaoke. And chili and wings.
Needless to say, I'm excited to go back. This year, things will be different.
Just for funsies, I've set some goals. Goals other than "just finish without passing out".
Baseline goal : Beat last year's time of 35:12
Realistic but difficult goal : Beat my best 5k time of 30:00 flat
Pipe dream goal : 28:50 or less (what the FIRST plan tables say I should be running based on my longer race times, not including this recent half-marathon fail).

Speaking of repeats, I did NOT get up at 6am and head to the track. Probably should have not stayed out so late and gone to Roadhouse Craft Beer & BBQ, arguably the greatest beer bar in Boston. It was worth it for the Racer X.
I have a party to go to tonight, but I'm going to leave early and try to get to the track. I don't know what it says about me that I'd rather be running around in Dorchester in the dark than at a party on a Friday night...