Notes
Split was something like 70-71 if I read the clock correctly - woo, 800s are fast. More discussion when I'm not very tired tomorrow I hope.
Jumbled Thoughts:
1) Check-in for the race was very easy, even if I came in the wrong entrance. Whoops.
2) Getting to the track around 5:50 was way earlier than I needed, but also I did want extra time - I had at least an extra 30 minutes, so a good note for the future.
3) I dithered on wearing my spikes, but I'm very glad that I did - the first few strides had a bit of knee pain, but I think that's mainly the going flat out with a little wrong stride. My biomechanics are okay, but if I'm trying to go flat out slightly cold they are bad - and spikes exacerbate the flaws. That said, I had enough time to switch and get a little more used to the shoes.
4) We started in lanes - I was in lane 4 or 5 (9 lane track) and that was a good spot for me. It's weird starting in lanes, but also I haven't run a race that benefits from that since potentially freshman year of high school (never in college - the 1500 is a straight-line start and I didn't run anything shorter outdoors; the mile indoor is usually a straight-line as well, but also depends on the race size).
5) At the break, I was comfortably in 4th (they ran all men 15 and over in one heat - I was the only open competitor, oddly enough). I managed to get across cleanly, which was definitely a little tricky.
6) 400 in, I want to say I saw around 70-71. I'd lean toward a low 71, since I don't feel like I adjusted pace much for the second lap. I don't think I got an accurate 200 split - or at least, I don't remember 12 hours later.
7) The second lap was pretty much just go - I knew I was in a good spot pace-wise and that a clean push would get the PR.
For the first 800 race since May 2007 (!!!), I'll happily take this. With a bit more training focused on this, maybe something sub 2:20 feels very doable - but I can't make any of the remaining meets in this series!