ParkRun for first time

Sun, 9/1-Went to Skillman Park with V. Did 5.3M in 41:10

Sat, 8/31-Did ParkRun for second time. Arrived at 8:25. Parked near rose garden. Warmed up 1.25M. Applied Icy Hot! Stretched. Used my massage gun! Made my way to the Delaware Raritan Canal area. Unlike last week when I found myself alone after a half-mile, today there were four runners ahead of me. Pace check over first few minutes: 6:15! Well before the mile mark, I had passed the guy in third place. I reached the mile mark in 6:35. The two guys were about 50-60m in front of me by now. I reached the turnaround point at about 10:00/10:05. The runner in first was now 75m-100m ahead, while the guy in second maintained his 50-60m lead over me. A minute after the turnaround point, I could feel myself gaining on the guy in second. By the mile two mark, I had made contact and pushed past him. Mile 2: 6:30. It was onto the first guy. Over mile three, I was reeling him in, meter by meter. By the time I reached the spillway, I had made up nearly all the distance. In fact, I pulled even with him over the cobblestones, but then he surged. I did not respond, trying to decide if I had it in me. I hung back, partly because my drive was waning some, partly because I didn't want to seem too "competitive." I looked down at my watch and saw 19:00. I decided I wanted this unconditioned body to break 20:00. I pulled nearly even again as we approached the bridge. A swift move by the leader made the difference as he finished up five to seven meters ahead of me.  19:59 on me.

Fri, 8/30-took off

Thurs, 8/29-new route 5.75M in 43:25

Wed, 8/28-new route in reverse 5.75M in 44:20

Tues, 8/27-regular 5.72M

Mon, 8/26-4M

Sun, 8/25-5.65M Skillman

Sat, 8/24-Did ParkRun for first time. Goal was to find a pace, hold, and drop it lower if I felt good. This worked well since I found myself solo a few minutes into the race.
Mile 1: 7:02
Mile 2: 6:45
Mile 3: 6:15
.1M: 35s
3.1M/5K: 20:37

Fri, 8/23-took off