Notes
Brewery Relay anchor leg. I wasn't sure how to run this leg so I planned on something like a 10 miler. Hoped for a 5:45 pace. At the start, turns out we were neck and neck with the Millenium team. I got the baton about 10-20 meters after Corey had passed through the relay zone (he was running both legs 5 and 6). I gave chase, staying behind him for a little bit before catching up. I originally considered staying behind for a while and making a move later. But then I thought, he is already well into this leg, I should try to put the hurt on him as soon as possible. So I pulled up to him, then soon after on a downhill I surged ahead. I kept pouring on the steam, attempting to bury him as much as possible. I also knew I should be getting some fast splits in on the bike path section, before it got hilly.
My splits were looking good, consistently in the 5:40s. I kept working at that effort, knowing it was a hard effort and would be difficult for Corey to make up the gap. Getting out onto 28 though, this leg got real tough. Out of the shade, the sun really started beating down on me. Then we made the second turn and I had a big hill awaiting me. Then another, long and gradual. I kept the wick turned up and kept grinding away. That 6th mile was real rough. But then I finally got to a downhill and past the 7 mile mark and I knew the end was in sight. On the last stretch I let off slightly on the gas, making sure I wouldn't completely burn out. Still going fast though, as I figured Corey was still relatively close behind me.
I needn't have worried. I ended up putting about 2 minutes on Corey. I guess when I made the turn off of 28 he wasn't even in sight on the preceding half mile stretch. No regrets though, I made the race really honest. I think me thinking he was close behind really helped to keep me grinding. Pretty happy with this race since it was nearly 3 miles longer than Bill Luti yet virtually the same average pace. A lot less hills in this race but still. Fun event too. Today was really awesome.