Notes
** City of Lakes 25k (Lake Harriett/Lake Calhoun) **
Was not sure what to expect today given I had never run a 25k race before. Had you told me before hand that I would have PR'd at 15k (54:34) and Half Marathon (1:19:13) en route, I'd have been thrilled. I am happy with that, but the way I sort of blew up at the end has left a bad taste in my mouth. Suppose that was always the risk of going for it.
Started the first mile up hill conservatively and then spent about the next 9 running 5:55 pace or a little faster. Was running with Ben Merchant and Michelle Lillienthal (first woman) for some of that. Let them get some distance from me around 8 miles and then around 11 miles it started to feel like more of a struggle than I wanted it to feel. After that I was just trying to hang on and get through 13 with a PR and then finish without completely blowing up. I really believe just backing off a few seconds per mile in that first 8 or so would have made a world of difference. But whatever, it was a good workout and a learning lesson. Besides, when you find yourself running with some people like that you have to take a chance and see what you can do.
Weather was probably high 60s/low 70s. Cloudy, but kind of humid.
Going to operate under the assumption that I can manage the same pace (or a tad slower) for 26.2 on a better day and fresh legs. We'll see.