Lexus Santa Monica 5000 - September 12 2010

I signed up for the Lexus Santa Monica 5000 10k, which benefits the Saint John's Health Center, because it is the same course as the Santa Monica Classic. This time I went to the expo the day before at K-Swiss in Santa Monica, then got a great dinner at Library Alehouse with my standard carbo load of a nice dark ale. 

This time I drove myself early in the morning to Santa Monica. I parked in the public lot and walked back down to Barnard. It was a little bit cooler today than it was in May. I wanted to beat my previous time, even though I've been more focused on distance running. I usually don't warm up until I've ran a 10k... but I was able to do it!

 1:10:21.5 with an 11:21 pace! So it's not by a lot... Hopefully in 2011 I can shave another minute or two off that.

The race was good. I think as much course support as the Santa Monica Classic. I didn't like the cotton shirt I got for this race, and would have rather went without, as the Santa Monica Classic provided a great tech shirt! Also, the Santa Monica Classic event is a bit better at updating their website.

The BEST part about this race, however, was the pancake breakfast after. I waited in line for my pancakes and when I got to the guy serving them up he said "oh sorry, I'm all out... can you wait a few minutes?" I must have made the most pitiful look, because he held up his hands and said "Wait right there!"

Patiently, I waited. As soon as he'd made up a new batch of pancakes he gave me the one on top. He told me it was for waiting. The woman behind me was so pissed. She even said "Hey, we waited too!" but I proudly took my pancake. A grandma came up to me and asked if she could take a picture of it. I laughed and said sure. She told me to hold it up higher, closer to my head. Then she said "oh here hun, lemme take a picture for your family." I handed her my phone, and the rest is history. Best pancake ever.