Real David H.

This probably sounds weird, but I love seeing other people’s race shirts. I also like going out of town and getting a race shirt from somewhere close to where I don’t live. Thanks to having in-laws, I have two Turkey Trot shirts from Warren, Ohio, which is a full 400-plus miles from where I live. I’ve had the “what race is that from?” conversation from race shirts before – it’s a great conversation starter.
So that brings me to my 5K this Saturday – I want you to have my shirt. If you’re not around the Lynchburg, Va., area, think of the conversation you could have if someone asks you about your shirt. So to win the shirt (size is large) – that I promise I will not wear or let my dog lay on or clean my truck engine with – all you have to do is guess my time for this 5K in the comments section for this entry. The cutoff time is 9 p.m. Friday.

To help you in guessing my time, this 5K – called the Race for Life, a fundraiser for the Liberty Godparent Home – is unique. The first half is all downhill; the second half is uphill. There is some flatness to the middle part, but it’s pretty much a down-and-up out-and-back course in Lynchburg. My goal is to give this race all I have. For those who have followed this site, you know that I have focused on distance in recent years – this is only my third 5K in as many years, although the gap between my last 5K and this one isn’t nearly that much.

On race day, it will have been 123 days since my last 5K in December – a 24:34 in the Bedford Christmas Classic, in the rain, 413 days after a 5K in October 2008. Before October 2008, I had a 420-day gap between 5Ks. My PR in a 5K is nearly three years old – 22:42 in August 2007. Out of 13 5Ks, I’ve had just three faster than 24 minutes. Keep in mind that just a month ago I set a PR in a flat half marathon in 1:42.

Please guess the times to the nearest second. I’m not sure if the race will be measured in tenths of a second or not, but I will round down the time for the giveaway if that happens. (For example, if my time is 23:49.9, a winning entry would be 23:49.) If there are any ties, I will use Random.org to help pick the winner. If you pick the exact time, I will slip in a little something extra. And this will not be like the “Price is Right” – the winner is the closest second whether you’re over or under.

Again, the cut-off time to guess a time is 9 p.m. (ET) Friday. Please leave an accurate email address in the comments section so I can contact you. Good luck! (Please note, to be officially entered, leave a comment here. Guesses through Facebook and/or Twitter will not be accepted.)