The Sporting Life 10k is one of the major runs held in Toronto every year.  It is a 10k race that draws well over 10,000 runners to the streets to run down Yonge St.  It’s one of the fastest 10k race course as it is a net downhill, but don’t let that confuse you, fast doesn’t mean easy.  A 10k race is harder in many respects than longer races, because you race harder, at a faster pace.  My goal this year was to break 45 minutes.  I was 52 seconds off this last year, but I was please with my 2 minute improvement then.  I SUCCEEDED, by taking a minute and 4 seconds off this year, finishing in a time of 44:47.  This was the first running race that I raced for myself since the the Mississauga half marathon last year.  I think, oddly as it may sound, that all the work I’ve been doing on the bike over the winter, moreso than my running helped me achieve my goal.  Also I have to take 2 friends for pacing me in this race, so I had something to help keep me focused when the pain set in around 7.5k into the race.