Notes
Tulsa Run 15k, 5th place ($100) 47:42. perfect weather, 54 degrees, almost no wind. This course is not for speed. up and down (334 ft of gain) and over 20 turns through out the course, so any notion of getting a rhythm was gone. Took off at the start and it was down hill so I let my stride go and opened in sub-5 without feeling gassed which was a pleasant surprise, I was thinking sub 5:20 would be solid. I let Preisner and the africans go but focused on keeping a pair of other guys in striking distance in the early miles. Despite all of the turns, the first 3k flew by and before I knew it I was grinding away on Cherry St and found myself in 5th place. There were a few long climbs and long downs before getting to Woodward park, and i could feel a hint of a cramp coming on. I worked the uphills the best I could without obliterating myself and cramping up beyond return, then I'd re-open my stride and cruise the downhill while maintaining a composed cadence. I was feeling good from 5k-10k and made a few moves to catch the 4th place guy but nothing severe since my training hasn't been strong I didn't want to get over my skis. I was aggressive most of the time, never really settling in because I was trying to hunt the 4th place runner, but after 6k the 10-15 sec gap stayed the same. legs didn't start getting heavy until 13k but it was at the absolute worst part of the course. the last 2k was completely uphill going up Boston back towards downtown. the first climb nearly broke me all together.the road was so steep and I was so tired, I felt my throat close under the anaerobic demand and when I finally crested the top I wasn't sure I was even sub-6 pace. I took a short shallow hill to regain and made another attack up the longest hill of the finishing stretch. Peter and Breaux were riding electric scooters along side me at a k to go and the 10 sec gap to 4th seemed within reach. I put in one last surge and the distance stayed the same. my stomach was nearly to the point of throwing up when I passed 9 miles and when I realized 4th wasn't in reach I cruised in too enjoy an surprising performance amidst the rebuilding after Chicago. 4:57, 5:05, 5:10, 4:58, 5:19, 4:54, 5:01, 5:03, 5:17, .3-1:52 (5k splits: 15:48/31:38)