Notes
Got out strong near Drew but settled into the pace of the pack soon after (a lot more people than last year it seemed). I took the first mile uphill and downhill conservatively and felt good going through the mile in 5:26. This year we went through the prairie before the woods (which I liked, no seemingly endless prairie turns whilst very tired) and I just tried to relax. The top 2 Luther guys passed me and then Odin as well. I kept on searching for the 2 mile mark and finally hit it, 10:53.
I wasn't feeling great, but then Trevor (don't know his nickname) passed me just as we were getting out of the prairie and into the crowds of spectators. This rallied me to stick with him. I clung to his shoulder as we rolled through the outbound part of the woods, passing ~8 people or so. I let him go before the 3mile mark (16:20?), thanking him, and wishing him well.
The last mile started with a brief battle with an Iowa Central kid before leaving him before the hill. I was feeling strong but the last hill still left be battered, bent-over, and beaten. I gradually recovered, and looking around me revealed that everyone else fared just as poorly. I kept my distance with a group in front of me, passing 1 before the final stretch and finding Odin directly in front of me. As I debated the merits of kicking, a Hamline boy flew by me, encouraging me to match his pace past Odin and to a better time.
Quite joyed with the result, fastest as an alumni and 15sec off best time. Still, my conclusion is the same as the past 2 years: not used to cross country or spikes (even with all the trails I run). I bet every other minute I had a poor landing where my foot slipped or ankle gave way. We'll see how many more xc races I'll do as opposed to trail races, or maybe I'll get some different shoes to wear.