Notes
This was a really fun race. Weather was pretty much perfect and there was a pretty big crowd. There was evening a running nun (actually a dude, but everyone called him sister).
I always start these things fast. I guess there is no fighting it. Once I was clear of all the slower runners and little kids I pulled it back to a more comfortable pace. The course was fairly flat, slightly down hill, for the first half of the race so it was pretty smooth sailing. I noticed the running nun would pause for a moment to drop back and run with different people.
Around the halfway mark I got into a pack. It was pretty cool to run neck-and-neck with some people for a while. That doesn't usually seem to happen in smaller races. The pack eventually dissolved with me passing some people and getting passed by others. Probably a wash.
With a half mile left the running nun dropped back again and started pacing me. He looked up ahead and said "Let's pass these guys." We did and it was awesome. Had to the most challenging hill of the course at this point and I was pretty winded by the top, but I recovered and finished strong on the downhill.
Finished 19th of 470 and got another PR out of it. Also got a sweet pint glass for finishing 2nd in my age group. Evidently Catholic churches give the best prizes.