Notes
Nice weather and great to see so many people I've met in the running community over the past several months. I've never gotten so many mid-race shouts and fives. Pretty cool stuff.
The race itself was a mixed bag. Huge PR, about 10 minutes faster than I completed last year's RTB. Didn't quite hit my 1:40 goal, but would have gotten pretty close if I hadn't had to stop to tie my shoe in mile two. The race started out very fast. Really had to force myself to not push the pace as I was getting passed in the first mile. Things pretty much hit and equilibrium around the first turnaround.
I was cruising pretty well through four miles, but started breathing a bit harder in mile five. Caught a bit of a rush going back through Midway where there was a good bit of crowd support. I knew the second loop was going to be hilly, though, so I pulled back a bit as I started the ascent after Midway College. I think I did pretty well on the hills after galvanizing my legs during the Bourbon Chase. Reeled a few people in on the uphills.
Really had to gut out the hills on the way back, particularly the big one at mile eleven. Didn't have much left for the last mile and half descent back to the finish, but I did what I could.
Hit the finish and got the biggest hunk of hardware I've ever gotten from a race. Hit up Wallace Station with some Striders to cap off a wonderful morning with a much needed and deserved breakfast.