Notes
Temp 53 Wind 9 mph.
There early and get course map. Close, but not exactly what I'd guessed. Go ahead and drive it to check out the turns. Will have to watch 1st and 2nd. All these streets look the same. Odometer has the course at 3.3 miles.
Attempt a head count during pre-race instructions. Get to 36, then a few more stragglers wander up. The Professor is here, Shannon A., Wayne C., guy in GO St Louis M/HM shirt (turned out to be 50- yr old Jeff Bollinger from Jackson/Millersville), and two or three younger athletic types. Shannon, Wayne, JB, and younger guys take first row. I'm next to The Professor on row two.
Planned on letting people go out fast on decline. JB and one of the younger guys are only ones to go. I pull up behind them, pace is slow, so I go ahead and take charge. Smooth and easy first mile with wind at my back. Hear the 6:00 minute alert and mile chirp back to back. Wasn't sure where course splits were and they are not marked. Run a 5:57.
Approach 1st of four turns. Race official on course. Turn into cross head wind. Peek over at turn and see no one. Missed the next turn when driving the course. Looking for official, but none. Slow slightly to make sure I hit it. Turn, and official is in his car texting. At the Children's Center now. I've beat the officials to the water station. On past to next turn and official is just now driving up in his car. Sneek a second peek over shoulder and see The Professor back probably 40-50 seconds. This one is mine. Going to get to last turn, then see if I'm up to mental challenge of running the last 1.25 miles into the wind solo without slowing down.
Hear 12:00 alert. Think I hear the mile chirp. Am I at two miles in 12:00? Must have been background noise because mile split was 6:12. Attribute some of slow down to being too tenative looking for and making turns.
Official is at last turn. Lock in and go. Legs keep getting out in front of me too much and catch stride trying to get too long. Keep bringing it back in. Negative 3rd mile split. 6:10. Heard 18:00 minute alert and was thinking did not want an OA win and have my name in the paper with a 20:00+ when actually finished 5K portion of course in under 19:00. Pick it up, climb the hill, and finish it off at a 6:09 pace. Time 19:44. Garmin has course at 3.23 miles.
The Professor is second. Was about two minutes back. Think his time was 21:41. One of the kids third, then Jeff, then Wayne. Shannon A. wins an AG award. That was nice to see. Could have promoted it better, but overall, RD did a decent job for first-time event.