2.8 warm up then race. 2nd! Ahhh! I shouldn't complain because 2nd is alright. But for the last 2 years (probably about 6 races) I have got 2nd in every race I have run except marathons. So I am kind of tired of it. Went out real hard - with the strength of my Racing Mullet pullinng me along! 5:08 1st mile - felt like Jose for a fleeting moment as I led the pack. 2nd mile in 5:06 - still feeling great. I was a little worried because I was moving it pretty quick and I knew I would pay later. But being the just a few days after the 1 year anniversay of my stroke, I wanted to just try to really challenge myself and get into the 32's. mile 3 in 5:20 and 3.1 in 15:41 (my 5K pr is like 15:30). I was cooking but just before crossing the bridge I really began to notice a major blister forming on my right heel. It came quick and furious. mile 4 5:59 - slowed way down for 2 reasons: my heel was killing, I couldn't even step on it; and a monster hill near the end of this mile. I decided not to kill myself up the hill. My strategy had changed from attack for a 32 to survive and maybe hold on to 2nd (I didn't see anybody close, but I was already looking). mile 5 5:50 - told myself to just keep it gowing despite my foot and then try to hammer out a good mile 6. The rolling hills weren't bad. mile 6 5:40 - tried to bring it back down, but by now the blisterS were so bad I could barely step. I was kicking myself for wearing these shoes (my only racing shoes are an old pair of Nike Nairobi's from college and they always give me a little blister on the back of my heel, so I prepped with MoleSkin, but it didn't help). .2 43 seconds - just hoping no one would gain on me I just tried to gut it out. Immediately after crossing I ripped off my shoes and found not only an enormous blister covering my whole right heel, but a very tasty guy covering the back of my right heel and a little fellow I hadn't even noticed on the back of my left heel. I had planned to run back and help my brother finish, but I could barely even walk so that plan faded fast. Finish was 5:27 miles - 33:58. Not bad, but I know that my blisters cost me at least the minute (20 seconds per mile for last three) I wanted to hit into the 32's. I am really kicking myself for wearing those shoes. They are now officially retired. STEVE - get the store open so I can get a pair of racers! By the way: W-151.5 RHR-38 Sunday: W-151.5 RHR-37 | 