Wrote following report to a friend and thought I could share it here. The forum is a bit quiet these days anyway.
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Here is my progress:
2006: Oracle 5K 26:45 / 8:38 (off the couch, right after Siebel acquisition, never ran before, sore for a few days after)
2007: Oracle 5K 24:41 / 7:58 (3rd female; ran once a week 5 miler for two months before the race)
Feb 3, 2008: Kaiser SF Half 1:43:00 / 7:52 (ran one 11 miler before hand, otherwise once or twice 5 miler a week; hmmm... same pace as 5K, so maybe that is THE pace -- I can't go any faster?)
2008: Oracle 5K 22:23 / 7:12 (2nd female; What a relief -- I CAN actually go a little faster than the 7:50+ pace. Good to know... Was running once or twice 5 miler a week, but I think riding has helped too)
I don't think I can shave off another two minutes in the next 5K though. That's just impossible. It'll get harder and harder to make further progress. Oh, I feel I'm digging myself into a hole. digging.. digging...