Notes
As I looked around at the starting line, I saw 0 potential competitors. I knew Scott Gall had signed up but he wasn't there (turned out he had to work at a water stop after some volunteers didn't show up). So I kept with the leader and went through the mile just under 6min. After a few more minutes I decided that was enough and took off on my own. I thought I picked it up up a good amount but the next few miles were all 5:40's. The course is basically an out-and-back on a bike path so I was very close to all the other runners coming the other way. I got a good adrenaline rush as people cheered me on and I subtlely encouraged them. I thought I was cruising and felt like I was running downhill but the that mile was just another 5:40. So at 5 miles I was getting discouraged: I wasn't going very fast, not feeling very good at that, and now there was noone but myself and the lead biker. Ergo, last mile was similar to the first, not far under 6min. Still, I finished before the timers expected.
Not a very motivating race, the 10k was basically the same time as the last 10k of my marathon. I suppose the conditions weren't great - humid, wet, and muddy/slick footing. Some competition probably would have upped my game, but then again, this day probably wasn't going to go great anyway so I'll be happy with the victory. Afterwards had some great pancakes, met the stud female-runner in town (who got 2nd overall), and chatted with Chelsea Lynch who was in town.