Notes
Pretty good race today at Steamboat down in Peoria. Got 6 hours of sleep last night, race time was really early (7 oclock). Basically, they started the 4 mile and 15k guys at the same time so I wanted to make sure not to get out too hard and tie up. Goal was to stay really smooth through the 5k, push the 2nd 5k, and race the last 5k. Plan worked out really well, through the first mile in 5:20, 2nd mile in 5:25 feeling nice and smooth. Hit the hill just after the 2 mile mark (where the turnoff for the 4 mile was) in 2nd place and took the hill pretty well. Slowly started coming up on the leader and passed him at the three mile mark. Hit the 5k in 16:50and started to turn over and push, both attempting to change gears a little and to put some space between me and him. Ended up splitting a 4:57 on that 4th mile. The 5th mile was the toughest- you had a really steep downhill that actually hurt my back a little going down, right into the uphill. Was tired, so didn't really push the uphill, plus, from this point on, had to start bobbing and weaving between people on the 2nd lap around the park. From this point on, just tried and stay steady and gradually push it. It was tough trying to weave through the people and probably slowed me down a good 20-30 seconds the last few miles because of having to go out of my way to get around these people. 5th mile in 5:41, suprised how slow it was, but the hill was there. 6 mile in 5:37 and came through the 10k in around 33:30ish, so 16:40ish for that 5k. Feeling it a bit now but wanted to turn over so picked it up and hit the 7th mile in 4:57. Last two miles seemed to drag on forever after I got outta the park and had to then bob and weave through the 4 milers. 8th mile in 5:12, and on the 9th mile, actually passed the pace-bike because of how thick people were. Had to run through a few people and go across to the otherside of the road, deff slowed down the 9th mile. Hit the 9 mile mark and started taking off, opened up really well on the final stretch. Happy with the time, pretty fast, and averaged 5:20s which was exactly what I wanted. Team went 1,3,5,8,9,10 which is fricking awesome. Honestly, proud of all the guys and it was a great day all around. Closed the last 5k in around 16 flat, so neg splitted each 5k and was really happy with that