Notes
Temp 50 Wind 6 mph.
Weather near-perfect, had a good warm up, and actually feel rested with some (age-adjusted) pop. About thirty total today, but only one that matters to me. 52-year old SP got me by 0:09 seconds at Nolan a few weeks ago and relit some competitive spark. Knew he was tri-training for a half-ironman, and checking out his splits from that race, appeared to me his "zone" pace is right at 7:00. We're going to spend some extended time outside his comfort zone this morning.
Teen kid out fast with SP and 50-year old MS (who finish nearly 3:00 minutes behind me at Nolan) in tow. I'm hanging out in 4th and not making the same mistake of letting SP get too much space on me like last race. Kid stops to walk at Adams Street bridge about 400 meters in. I pass MS before having to cross single-track pedestrian crossing and begin to cruise up to SP.
Observe that he slows significantly to make his 90° turns (and there are 16 of those on this course + a 180° turnaround). Get closer than I want a couple of times in first mile, but recognize he is aware of me, so this will work for now. Check watch at about 800 and I'm at 6:49, so know he's below his zone. Will try to keep him elevated until turnaround, then reassess my tactics. His first mile split was 6:41. I go through at 6:48.
Know we'll run with mild tailwind on a ever-so-slight down grade after turn around. Feeling good going through Brookside, so thinking will look at making move after rounding cone. About 100 meters before cone, bear jumps SP. Have to slow quite a bit to bide my time. We make the 180° with me on his heels. Tells me thought I was that kid behind him. Reply that's a negative as kids cannot run two miles.
Hit a surge to make some space, then relax. Plan is to hit surge coming out from under Bus 61 bridge, and at least two more coming off foot bridges on Snake Road in the park (where I watched him slow down each time going out). I'm able to get a peek at the result of my first surge at Goodson bridge (1.8 mile mark) and had put 2-3 seconds on him.
Next, execute the three surge plan, then bide my time until Washington Street bridge (2.6 mile mark) where I can peek without looking back over my shoulder. Have ran off and left him. My mile two split was 6:57, his was 7:08.
Try to force myself to push a little harder by chasing Golden on the lead bike. Able to muster a 6:59 third mile, so late race slow down not as glaring this time out. The last two sharp turns, then straight up final hill took the spunk out my kick and covered the odd distance in 0:20 seconds (7:49). Final clock time 21:04.
1st OA, some redemption, and an OA win at age 60. SP 2nd at 22:29. Says on Starva pulled hamstring in cool temps...interesting when looking at pace graph, it appears to have happened smack at two mile split where, after briefly losing sight of me, he would have been coming out from under Bus 61 to see that I had gapped him more post-Parkview surge? So, maybe, maybe not? MS 3rd overall for a grandmaster sweep.
CBEGM rolls on. May have been last race for 2021? Will see what shakes out.