Notes
**Pre-script: You could probably go back 2 years and read this race's entry from 2019 for very similar play-by-play.
The start was in waves and about 10 of us set out in the first wave. I gave space for others before the start line but nobody took the initiative. Upon conversation, it didn't seem anyone was more ambitious than myself which gave me some confidence (during warm-up, I had seen some fit looking runners in ISU & UNI gear).
Myself and another running (Hiram) took the lead from the start. There was no lead-bike and the pedestrian path we were on was not closed off. That and a 180 turnaround made the first mile a bit interesting, which was good as I was a bit anxious about how my body was feeling and wondering how my competitors were feeling.
We returned to the start and my largest fan group for a race in years (Naomi, Nessa, Mom, Dad, & Tristan) for mile 1, 5:30. Slow, but very similar to 2019's first mile. In 2019, I dropped everyone after mile 1 and hit low 5:20's after that. And maybe wanting some deja vu, I struck out to do the same today. Again I had some short hills that allowed me to gather speed on the downhills. Hiram was still with me, though audibly breathing [to be fair I was quieter, but also snorting, belching, and wheezing intermittently).
My legs and breathing were getting under control on the bridge as I saw Chris Nealy cheering me on right as I was getting a step or two on Hiram. As I am wont to do, I took this slight gap as a sign to make a move in order to turn it into a big gap right before the 2mile: 5:25. The next mile was a strong one as I successfully lengthened that gap, started passing runners who had started after me, and came upon the bell lap with my fans/the crowd cheering: 5:19.
The 4th mile was the hardest to keep pace. Unsurprising as I (believe) had made the winning move but was now tiring. I still managed a 5:23 but wasn't very hopeful about a strong finish. Instead, I kept the pace up and sprinted to a 5min finish (5:15 pace) for the win and happy fans.
So pretty similar race execution, splits, and finish time as I defended my title. The differences would be windier conditions today but maybe a flatter course. Let's hope this is a start of some momentum I just can't say where that momentum would take me at the moment, with luck some more races.