Notes
I didn't feel well. My warm-up felt more than labored and I just wasn't right. No one with Susan G. Koman really cared if I was ready it turns out. Shocking.
Gun goes and we're off. I need to start doing better at starting from the front. People just don't know any better and don't know where to be in a coral. Not too much dancing to get around snails. Up over the bridge and a hard right. I feel ok. Heart rate is already high 1/2 mile in, but not really anything I can do now. I'm committed to starting at this pace. Another left onto Washington St and way up is mile 1. What I failed to recognize is that the start line was pushed further west, which pushed mile 1 further along the course. I'll admit, I was kind of flipping out looking for it. Oh well. Mile 1 in 6:43. Check
Along Washington St. is a long stretch, (over 1 mile) and I'm feeling it. I'm keeping my eyes on people, catching a few, and getting passed by even less. Pass the zoo, curl past Victory Field, and hit Mile 2 at 6:54. I'm hurting and the worst is coming.
A few hundred yards up Washington and another left onto Capitol Ave. This is where the wheels start throwing themselves from the vehicle. What I haven't mentioned yet is the 15 mph wind out of the north. The north being the direction I'm currently running with my heart about to explode out of my chest. I'm holding onto everything I can but I know its not working. Cadence is slowing down, stride is shortening, lungs are burning. I'm not passing anyone anymore. That has passed. Left turn, harder left, harder right and we're on the last stretch. Last 1/3 of a mile basically and its a call to the engine room for anything its got left. And that call goes unanswered. I don't look, nore do I even remember the watch beeping for mile 3. 160 yds. to the finish and I'm toast. Check
I see the clock and it is 21:20 something. I'm exstatic inside but that probably doesn't show well outwardly. 21:30 is the chip time. Pretty awesome. A PR which is great, but in all honesty its just enough to frustrate me. I know there is 21 flat in me right now. The wind and my poor race management just took away from it. Oh well. The bar, she is lower. That slut!!!
On a personal note, this is a blast. Having Dave and Mike to talk/train/and compare with is amazing. You guys inspire and push me to do stuff I've never done. I am without a doubt in the best shape I've been in in 10 years. And we ain't done. It's not even May. This summer, no..... Everything from here on out is gonna be amazing. Times will drop, records will fall, and we will be better. With every workout.