Notes
Not sure why the course is showing as short because it was the same as it has been??? I must have really worked the tangents... :)
I am pretty happy with this effort. It was BRUTALLY windy out there and at times I felt like I was going backward because of how strong it was. Had a plan to try to do 6:25s for three and then lock into 6:17 pace through 13ish (with the exception of Puke's Peak). Never really locked onto that pace, but after around 5 miles, I just started racing the guys around me. Top two guys were GONE and I never even gave chase. Through the first loop, it was Brad Moening, Doug and me. Around mile 4, another guy joined us. He seemed to want to sit on others which kind of pissed me off. So, I slowed a bit and let he and Brad go. Doug had a stomach issue and dropped back, I thought about staying with him and then I got competitive.
Made the turn to start the first big loop and Brad and the other guy (Steve) had me by 20 or 30 yards. Just working to keep them in sight without pushing too hard. As we turned onto Rowland/Bren, the gap started closing. Caught them on Puke's Peak the first time. As we were coming down the hill to Shady Oak, either they slowed or I stayed on it?
Made the turn onto Shady Oak, and they were behind me. Do I ease up and run with them? Nah, I am not that smart -- I surged. Unfortunately, this was DEAD into the wind. The caught up to me by the time we turned onto Dominick and actually passed me back. :( Stayed on it and kept them in sight. As we hit the Dominick hill again, Brad started to fade a bit and Steve picked it up. We were fairly close at the top of the hill and I slowed a touch to take my second gel. When we made the turn for the second big loop, I had Brad by probably 20 yards, but Steve had me by a bit. Just kept chasing. He didn't seem to be running away from me. Caught him again on Puke's Peak and then we ran side by side (because I wouldn't let him stay behind me) up to Dominick. When we made the left, he had me by a couple of strides and I hit the tangent hard and caught him. Again he wanted to sit on me -- not happening this time!
I surged and dropped him. The rest of the way I was just working hard to make sure he didn't come up on my shoulder. Made the right onto Pioneer and just hit it HARD to the finish. Put 10 seconds on him in the last mile of the race. :)
All in all, a very good day. Course PR by 35 seconds and second fastest 25k ever (but the fastest was City of Lakes).