Notes
Started under control, felt like the whole race went out slow enough but apparently the first mile for me was around 5:30. Felt all right and kept a good mindset which was the largest factor for my results I think.
Second mile didn't get a split but took it soooooo fucking easy up the hill. Got passed by a lot of people tryin to be heroes. Once we got back up to the flat part I made some money and got back to where I thought I should be (within striking distance of the second ISU group). I think I could have made a little more $ on the flat part since it felt pretty effortless to switch gears.
Third mile took decent strides to stay with group 2. Kept my hips below me down the hill and once I got to the end of the mile by the semi-nasty hill I nearly walked up it just to chill out. Felt under control still and I had a lot of energy in reserve. Around the end of this mile I passed MacCoy.
Fourth mile I started to get nervous that I really fucked myself over because I probably had around 300 meters to make up on Adam and Cheif. Made some decent cash munny on the flatlands and probably had 150 meters to make up by the end of this mile. End of this mile was where I got my brain in check and grabbed myself by the ween to get myself in gear.
Last mile I knew it was go time so I started pushin really hard once we got up the mini hill to go down into the half backwoods. Passed Adam when we turned to go back up the hills for the finish. Didn't really see chief so I thought he was much farther ahead. Wanted to save a little energy in case anyone contested me for the finish. Saw him at the turn and he had a little less than 100m on me but I gunned it a little into the straightaway. I think I definitely could have caught him if I started my kick at the start of the straightaway but I was worried I would run out.
All in all, felt really strong. I know it's a leap but I want to fuckin PR at nats. I missed my PR from wartburg by 3 seconds and that course was so much easier than ours.