Notes
Another beautiful day for XC at Franklin Park
Based on what I felt was a good performance at Mayor's Cup 2 weeks ago. I was expecting a decent performance. This was the 8k instead of the 5k course.
I was hoping to go out slower this week in the first mile, last week I was 6:07, I was hoping for 6:15. I held back as much as I could, and still sailed through at 6:05, still a good 10-15 seconds behind my competitors. So I went out too fast, and they all went out faster. I still sort of mentally kicked myself for my excessive enthusiasm, but then tried to forget it.
My plan was not to start racing until Mile 2. I went through in 12:40, so averaging 6:20's, whereas in the 5k I was averaging 6:15's, but a much slower second mile with bear cage and my self recriminations at over cooking the first mile. Into the wilderness I was catching people, but found myself in no mans land. Looking ahead there was a pack of 5 that was just out of reach, I didn't want to surge excessively to catch, so I started a slow grind of trying to close the gap. In the pack was Ed Bradford, a friend, and close competitor. We've been very close at every xc race this year he with me taking 2 out of 3 of the races. As much as I tried the gap wouldn't tighten.
I went through the 5k mark at about 19:55 or a little less than 30 seconds slower than Mayor's cup. In my addled state, I miscalculated and thought I was way off pace. In my head I added 2 seconds a mile, but really the pace difference between 8k and 5k is more like 9-10 seconds a mile (or 2 secounds a 400). I was right on pace, but thinking that I wasn't. Don't try to do math while racing it never works. The second loop through the wilderness (miles 4 and 5), I noticed Ed move ahead of the pack ahead, this had the affect of breaking it up. The trailing members floated back to me and I caught them quickly one after another, I passed 4 only Ed was ahead.
Leaving the wilderness we had one more Bear Cage to do then about 800 to the finish from the top. I got on Ed's shoulder and we pushed for the base of the hill, I wanted to say something encouraging, but honestly had no oxygen to spare. Surprisingly I was ahead going up the hill, surprising because I typically am stronger going down and was just hoping to maintain contact till the top. The last 800 was a bit of a blur, I expected a surge from Ed and chanced one or two looks over the shoulder, but he didn't come. In the end only 3 seconds separated us, with the other 3 races probably a total of 40 seconds separated us in all the races. An epic competition between Ed and I this year.
Finished in a time of 31:27 (6:19) which is a minute faster than I've been here in 3 years. Converted to 5k it is about 19:05, so a substantially better performance than at Mayor's cup (19:27).
2013 32:19
2014 33:17
2015 31:27
Things I thought I did well. Not over doing the middle miles when I was chasing. Keeping focused even though I'd loss contact.
Things I wish I'd done better. Restraining myself in the very exciting first mile. Not over analyzing my splits during the race, I need to stay out of my analytical mind as much as possible after the first mile.