Notes
Good conditions (cloudy & mid to upper 50's) and good competition. Started out the race relatively conservatively and tried to find the right group of guys to run with. Saw a chase group of 5-6 guys separating from the larger pack and decided that was the right option. I was a little boxed in, but within about 100m, I was able to get through and surge to connect with the back of the pack. We went through the first mile around 4:55 (garmin picked it up a couple seconds later at 4:57). I wasn't feeling nearly as good as after the 4:51 to start Human Race a couple months ago, but I focused on staying positive. The pack broke up a bit in the second mile, but I worked to maintain drafting position behind a couple guys as we rounded the lake into the worst of the wind. Unfortuately, I felt like I was going to trip myself and/or the guy in front due to our strides, so I did the best I could to split the two guys and still get some relief the wind. As we approached the 2mi marker, I checked my watch and saw I going to be sub-10 and knew I had a shot at my 15:30 goal. My garmin went off for the 2nd mile split, I went around the guys I was running with and pushed the pace. One of the guys hung with me and we started picking off people. Right before mile 3, I went by a couple collegeville guys that weren't racing and they yelled that there was a TC Track Club guy right on me and I had to hold him off. At that point, I was pretty much at max speed and struggling to coordinate my stride. Fortunately, about 50m later, Candice gave me a big cheer, and I was able to remain upright and get across the finish line.
Garmin splits:
mile 1 - 4:57
mile 2 - 5:02
mile 3 - 4:55
mile 3.1 - 0:28