Notes
This was a fun race with a really tough course. It was new experience to be racing off-road. The grass paths were freshly cut and there was a a cool little rocky trail going through a small patch of woods.
Probably started out too fast. The first half mile was all downhill so I was caught off guard when I rounded a turn and was faced with probably the steepest hill I've ever encountered in a 5k. The hill kind of zapped me for the rest of the race. It was a constant struggle to catch my breath after that. Had a pretty good pace through the first loop, but I could tell I was going to be able to maintain it.
I was pretty much by myself for most of the first lap and half of the second lap. The leaders took off early and were out of sight except during a couple long stretches. After getting out of the woods I could here someone gaining on me, though. I tried to hold him off through the long back stretch, but he finally passed me in the downhill going back towards the bridge.
I tried to stay on his heels, but we eventually came to that damn hill again. At first I thought we might get a break and go around the thing, but he just ended up climbing it from an even steeper approach. I was pretty gassed at that point. My pace dipped below 10 min and I let the dude pull away. In the last tenth I got re-passed by one of the leaders that had taken a wrong turn (lol). The finish didn't feel very strong, but it looks like my pace was pretty decent.
I was a couple minutes slower than two weeks ago, but considering the hills and uneven terrain I don't think that's a bad result. I still finished 7th overall and won my age group. Also finished slightly before the ten year old girl than beat me in the last race. It was only after the race when I was talking to her mom did I find out she had just run another race yesterday evening... I think I'm even more amazed now.