Notes
Brookfield New Year's Day 4 miler before heading back to SC tonight. Just like old times! I'm happy with today, solid start to 2016. 5th time running this race, and just for giggles all my times/places on the course have been:
2009 - 25:37, 13th
2011 - 23:20, 3rd
2012 - 23:51, 9th
2014 - 22:17, 3rd
2016 - 21:45, 3rd
Until a few days ago, I definitely thought I was in better shape in 2014, but as I recently looked back on my logs from then, I sort of realized memory was biased by overly optimistic expectations at the time. TBF I was probably capable of the same time in 2014 if I didn't cruise that last mile but hey, it's one thing to talk about it and another thing to do it. (For reference, have splits of 5:17-5:50-5:19-5:50 recorded for 2014.) Ultimately I think I ran this as well as I could have right now and pretty much nailed best case scenario of what I was expecting to run.
For a small race, it's always quick up front. Parker was hoping to take down Will Sanders but Will dropped Parker around halfway and over the second half Parker kind of paid for being aggressive early. Will ran 19:53 to Parker's 21:06. Tyler Mannion decided to run too, which was cool because I figured I'd be right around him. We were together for probably about 0.5mi, he got a little room on me from there, but I closed it down on the Ironworks hill and grew a ~35s gap over the last 2mi, though I think he shut it down some after getting passed. He's got indoor ahead of him so no real shame in that.
Course isn't the worst out there, but it's certainly somewhat challenging. The splits pretty much line up with the elevation profile (although comparing the map to feel, I'm surprised 1 isn't more downhill and 3 less). The last mile was tough even though it's relatively flat; I was hoping for faster but I think I just gave a little too much on 3 which I don't regret. Definitely was wiped at the end!
Anyway, good day! Happy with where I am and am excited to move forward over the next 3 months.