Notes
Temp 37 (WC 32) Wind 6 mph.
Just when I think I've found every way to screw up a race. About 8:20 am pull up event web-site to see if they have list of entrants. Notice race starts at 9:00 am, not 10:00 am like I thought. Did not even have all my gear on, so grabbed everything in arms reach, got the wife, jumped in the car and headed out. Got to the park at 8:40. Out of the car to put on rest of gear, realized I'd got everything but hat, gloves, and inhaler I've been running with. Had picked up my chip Saturday (thank goodness) so ran around area to see set up and get what I could of a warm up in. Still stretching during race instructions. Schmiz sees I'm trying to keep my hands warm and offers his second set of gloves which I gladly accept.
There are three pacers for us. Billy L. is running for the 18:00-18:30 group, so I decide to keep him in reach. Off and I get boxed early by group that merges over to our side of road after start. Things start to clear out just past the end of the "S" curve about 0.25 miles in. Move on by several runners including Schmiz and Joe W. Have one runner (a young girl in a Ghisallo singlet) between me and Billy. Run her down about 0.75 in and finish the mile about two seconds off Billy's pace at 5:55. (Garmin split 5:58 and will run about 2 seconds off official splits rest of way.)
Actually running stong and running smooth. Planned on trying to run down who ever was in front of me during second mile. Look past Billy and see its Josh L. (He has ran a 5:45 first mile split and in the past has slowed significantly after going out too fast.) We're through the finish area the second time and into the "S" curve. Wheels came off here. Lost stride and could not get it back together. Feeling it slip away. See Josh L. come back to Billy. Billy has opened some on me. Hoping now Josh L. will come all the way back to me. Know Billy will run negative splits, so just trying to get it back together and not lose any more ground. Finish mile two with a 6:14 split. Slowest mile split since October 2009. Billy does his job with a 5:59 and Josh L. falls off to a 6:08.
Rest is a novel that would put anyone to sleep. Billy and Josh run about stride for stride to finish it off. I finish it out with a 6:16 third mile, which included a couple of surges that I paid for severly, and a kick that benefited from a slight decline coupled with the possibility of a generous tape measure.
Official Time -- 18:53. Taking out the pacers, who were not entered -- 8th OA. 2nd in AG to Ghisallo Runner Bruce Nie who came in at 16:56. Bruce won Masters Division (12th OA) at the 2009 Mardis Gras Half-Marathon (Not some local event, the REAL one in New Orleans). I was just thankful he didn't lap me on the third loop! Won a $20 gift certificate. Schmiz 3rd AG with a 19:28. He ran a PR yesterday...think he said 19:16. He's getting faster. Was lighter today too without second pair of gloves.
Overall assessment -- bit of a "stinker" today. Got much, much more work to do if I hope to improve.
Lots of late entries and turnout better than expected. Nearly 60. Had over 100 at last week's 5K and Norte Dame HS drew over 100 at their run yesterday. Participation is looking up this year. Fantastic!!