Stockton Independence Day 5K

I have avoided writing about races until they happen, since my 10K fiasco. I talked it up all over town, and then when Amanda got sick and called me that morning, I said, "Well, I'm not running it by myself!" In shame, I have refused to talk up any races until I am positive I'm doing them and/or have already completed them!
So this race was not mentioned until the day of! Since I have done quite a few races, with my previous goal being only to run the whole thing, I figured I can start thinking about improving my time. I actually have not run a 5K race in over a year, but I figured with all the running I've been doing this year, I might do pretty well.
I set an easy goal...run it in under 35 minutes. I used to run 5Ks in between 35 and 36 minutes. Amanda said it wasn't too hilly.
Liar.
It was ridiculously hot, so hot that I took two cups at the water stations, one to sip and one to dump on my head. I ran through every sprinkler set up, which was nice! It reminded me of RAGBRAI, when I would cut people off to get to the kids with the sprinklers. Never had that on a race. I felt like after mile one (always my slowest) I was going at a decent pace. Then the little hills kicked in. They slowed me WAY down in that heat.
I kept trucking, despite the obscene number of annoying little kids and stupid girls with their Bump-It hairdos walking/running and still staying ahead of me. GRRR. Have I mentioned that bugs me? But, I get in sight of the finish, and I start pushing it as hard as I can. (I never do this too early, after it backfired on me, and I had to do another little loop and I had nothing left.) I pass cute little Bump-It Girl in all my sweaty glory, and then I see the clock. Ugh. 35:45. It's not under 35, but I certainly can't get over 36. Faster. 35:50. Move those legs. 35:55. I'm not going to make it. 36:02. I cross the line and mutter "Damn it." And I thought, "Woah this is weird." I've never cared about my time before. Certainly, I've never been disappointed at the end of a race. I'm usually just thrilled I ran the whole thing, and didn't die. So, after discussing with Joel and Amanda, I think we are going to try some interval training and start timing our runs at the track. I've been running for 2 years. I should be getting faster. Also, I decided I need to get my breathing checked out by a real doctor. Hopefully this ideas will help me improve. Any other ideas for getting faster at 5Ks?
P.S. I would be Lazy Girl if I didn't comment on the food situation at this race. Great spread. For a $15 race?! Watermelon, oranges, bagels, other stuff I blocked out as I was staring at the people making snow cones. That's right. Snow cones. Brilliant. Why doesn't every race have delicious sugary ice at the end?? I might have run faster if I knew THAT was waiting for me!