Notes
Paul Short Brown 8K- 80th in 26:04.9, 2nd place team finish
As expected, race got out quick but nothing violent or unsettling. Steven got up to me about a mile in and we worked together for a good portion of the race. Can't say the first half of the race was overly smooth, but since we relaxed a bit from the first mile I felt some level of control. Through 5K things were going to plan. After Steven moved up 3.5 miles in, I wasn't hunting people like I should have -- more of a maintained effort. Getting to the final straight, I realized I definitely had something left. Kicked it in hard. Tired crossing the line, of course, but I could tell there was some more there. Calves bothered me a bit during the race and were sore after
Pros:
-Worked together with teammate(s) despite the large size of the field
-Stuck to a plan for a good portion
-Good kick
Cons:
-Miles 4 and 5 were a little lacking, need to be confident about my ability to finish and be on the hunt
-Need to avoid judging how the race is going by which teammates I can see. Our depth is fluid. The goal is to work in groups in early stages of the race and help-out / hold each other accountable as things string out
Overall it was an amazing day for the team which is really encouraging. While the race wasn't a homerun for me, I did some things right and finished not far off my PR. From the way I felt on the final straight I have some more in the tank. I'm working on not comparing myself to others, but also not comparing my present self to my Fall '19 self. In the grand scheme of things, I'm in an okay place -- just need to actively make things click in racing and my overall routine