Another Race

This was my fourth 5k (my first was in June - with a time of 35:02). I was hoping to break my record of 32:10, I really wanted a 10 minute mile. It always seems I take off faster than I should at a race because Everyone else takes off fast. Then I have to stop or slow down to catch my breath. When I got to the 1st mile mark someone was giving us the time. The person read off 8 1/2 minutes. I knew I was going way to fast. Especially when I was hoping for a 10 minute mile. So I slowed down a little so I wouldn't be to tired at the end. The turn around was at the 1 1/2 mile mark (approximately). I had been watching for my niece S and didn't see her until the turn around. I was surprised to see her just a little ahead of me, maybe she was tired. I kept going. I was actually catching up with S. I caught up with her around the 2 mile mark. I told her "You aren't going to let your Aunt beat you are you?". She took off and started going faster, I knew I couldn't keep up so I just kept back. I was really hoping to cross the finish under 30 minutes. I figured it would be hard since the last race I did I did it 32:10 and that was my best time. So if I was going to have to cut two minutes off my time, which is really hard. Well I kept watching S running just a little bit ahead of me. I tried to pick up my pace at the end - I usually can a little but I was just so tired I just couldn't go any faster. I could hear someone telling the runners the time and was just open jawed when I was hearing 27 minutes. I crossed the finish at 28:38. I was just amazed. S was 28:07 (I think). So she only beat me by 30 seconds. She better watch out next time!