Notes
Age-Grade: 83.15%
Holy HUMIDITY Batman!!! It was thick out there. Plan was to get out comfortably hard (6:05 to 6:10) and then mainly just compete. First mile I saw a few of the TCRC crew ahead of me and was really hoping that they weren't really going to go that hard. After the first mile, they started letting up a bit and I just tried to keep the effort even until we got up on Shepard Road. As we were going up the hill to Shepard, Brian started falling back a bit and Anthony pull ahead. I tried to stay kind of in the middle - Chase Anthony, but don't get too far ahead of Brian. At this point, I thought I was in the lead for 50 to 55. Billig was a good ways ahead. I just put a note that he was out there and focused on competing with those around me. Was moving up for the most part the whole race. At the turnaround, I wasn't able to get a gauge on how far Billig was ahead, but I am guessing at least 20 seconds? Anthony is right there too.
Start heading back and just trying to increase the effort a touch and take advantage off any downhills that are available. As I do this, the gap on Billig starts to close. So, just kept working the rest of the way. I think I got to within around 5 seconds of him just before the 9 mile mark, but right then a younger dude passed him and Pat latched onto him. If it wasn't for that, I might have got on his shoulder. Also, wasn't looking at splits at all after probably mile 2. Just racing. I wish I would have realized that mile 9 was as slow as it was -- maybe I had a bit more in me?
Anyway, I think this will get me a 10 pointer for MNROY -- that was the main goal. :)