Notes
After 3 strides: First race in 2.5 years in the books! Really pleased, as my goal was simply to break 17. My plan was to be slightly conservative the first mile as it's gradually uphill. I hit the mile 5:40 feeling pretty good, moving up to third place after starting in around 10th. The two leaders basically stayed the same distance ahead of me most of the race. I hit the turnaround in 8:25 just starting to hurt. The pain really hit on the hill to two miles, which I hit in 5:39. It then became a haze, though I remember reeling in the guy in second who the leader dropped. I caught him with about .7 to go and went by, but then I really started hurting and didn't have much left. My vision was blurry and the pain was all-consuming. But the downhill last mile carried me to the finish, and I got there well under my goal time with a 5:27 last mile, even as the other guy pulled away and beat me by 6 seconds. The leader ran 16:33. I'm very happy with how I gauged my effort and finished decently. Really, if I had run even "effort" the last mile would have been even faster because of the downhill, but I didn't totally die obviously. I need to get used to the pain again, but that was part of the purpose of this race. This race will push my fitness along quickly, and it was good experience getting in races again. Very happy with the race and thankful every day, but especially today, to be back running again. Great day.