2006 UW Dawg Dash 10K

Homecoming Week at the University of Washington is kicked-off with the Dawg Dash 5K and 10K races. This marked the 21st year of the Dawg Dash, and the third or forth time that I've run the race. It's difficult to recall how many times for certain since another race I run (Nordstrom's Beat the Bridge 8K) starts from the same location at Husky Stadium. Unlike Nordstrom's Beat the Bridge, the Dawg Dash 10K zigzags through the University's campus in a manner reminiscent of a Freshman's first day of classes, when they have no idea how to get from their English 101 to Stats 111 in the 10 minutes allotted by their class schedule. We ran through the Quad, around the Business School, behind Denny Hall, and next to Drumheller Fountain (twice). I could almost swear that the same route was required in one of my class schedules.

There were 1,200 runners in this year's 10K race, a number they announced just before the start. Blue skies and a temperature in the mid-50s greeted us. If it weren't for my lousy performance at this year's race, I'd say things were perfect. My legs were exceptionally heavy, and I finished at miserable 1:00:07. Let's hope that my ChuckIt training regimen gets me ready for the Seattle Half Marathon (November 26th).