Notes
So I fucked up; made an assumption that, ended up being wrong and felt like a dumbass. Going into the race, I didn't know if this was a 6k or a 4mi. I quickly checked the emails I had received from the Race Director and the website's schedule, but couldn't figure it out. I should have asked the other Unattached dudes, but didn't.
So the race started conservatively, Eli didn't go out too hard, Central didn't have their best guys, and Loras was told to keep it easy the 1st mile. I was feeling pretty good and thinking about catching up to the Loras guys, but just stayed drafting. Unfortunately that ended up being 5:47 for the 1st mile, which even with the hills and heat, seemed slow. I picked up the pace on the flatter 2nd mile and hit 5:39. The 3rd mile was hilly as well and I was starting to feel the heat, I just stuck with my group and hit 5:55, ugh.
But things were about to get much worse, I heard some coach yell, "1 and half to go...", and other say "just 5 more minutes of running". I wished dearly that they were talking to someone I was lapping, but as we turned a corner, it quickly became apparent we weren't finishing, this was an 8k and I had 1.5 miles to go instead of 0.5 (Also, that guy yelling about 5min was way off for everyone around me).
I didn't immediately slow down, but I did ease off the pressure - all the while debating whether I should drop out at 4 miles. But there were a bunch of spectators at 4miles so I just kept going as I saw 6:03 on my watch (holy crap, how long since I had a mile >6min in a xc race? high school?). I felt like I was just trotting along, but hardly anyone seemed to pass me. I started recovering and getting some strength back but nothing compared to what I'd like to feel. I still managed the last 2 decent hills well and finished with a 5:55 mile.
So this was a shock to the system, and the heat certainly sucked but maybe it helped me from going out harder the first couple miles. Perhaps the most interesting thing is I still didn't get passed much the last mile and still finished 27th out of 114. I don't think there are many races where only 33% of the people are under 30min, but it was a difficult course on a stupid hot day (probably also hasn't been since high school that I did a xc race in this heat).
So I didn't end up learning much about my fitness, but at least I got my spikes on and remembered what suffering felt like.