Notes
Strange morning. Just couldn't quite get it together mentally. Fortunately my bowels are back to their normal condition. Usual HB'oO for breakfast; felt a little nauseous. Arrived around 7:35. Beautiful clear fall morning with a slight chill Went for a 1 mile warm-up run along the Embarcadero. Got to see Ruby G and her soccer team and fellow LMJSers before the race. Ran a little more, and then participated in the organized stretching routine.
Paced behind a woman in a gold coloured shirt, and then started chasing number "9, Torres". Just after the hill at Aquatic Park I caught up with him and asked if he was from Liverpool; of course he was, so we talked some smack for a while. Shortly after, this guy ran swiftly by me, so I decided to catch him. As I caught up to him, I said, "hey, is this my little brother?" Of course it was. It was great to see him. We ran together for a while and then I told him that he should go on as his pace is faster than mine. Swimmers in the Bay...brrr. Right about here, (I'm guessing mile 4) I was havig a mental battle. I hadn't seen a miler marker since mile 2. I wasn't sure whether I was tired because of the distance covered or I was running too fast and so it was very difficult for me to read the race. Plus, unlike the SFM in July, there were few spectators and they were not really cheering us on. I realised that I missed the energy and encouragement of the crowds and therefore I had to create it for myself; Once we turned from the GGB I picked up my pace and was in my zone, passing folks who I had used to pace me, and I wasn't being passed by anyone that I had passed earlier. Finally I see the mile 6 marker; told myself that I had arrived at the 1.5 mile marker at SLM and picked up the pace again. Slight incline as we enter the Presidio. Once I saw the finish line I sprinted to the end. Race predictor had calculated a time of 1:05:38 for me, and I came in at 1:05:45! I had hoped to beat the calculator, however, I am happy and satisfied because I know that I gave it my all at last week's 10k. Here are my splits. Mile 1 - 9:12; mile 2 - 8:53; Mile 2 to Mile 6 - 8:58; Mile 6 to finish (1.46miles) - 8:12.