Notes
Temp 47 (WC 44) Wind 9 mph.
Heard RD say we have 72 runners today. Field appears mostly male and mostly young. See group of four from Ridge Rider AC out of Jonesboro. Reconize two immediately; last year's winner Joe P. and also Steve L. Both should go about 18 or better. Talking to K-Wheel again and he points out third member of their group Chris C. He's a little slower, but can still run in 18s. Fourth man still a mystery. Lot of NMCC Missouri HS track kids. Also significant number of track kids from Poplar Bluff and Corning.
Notice during RD's directions that HS kids and few others, including little kids, have lined up three deep at starting line. As I go to line up, two other little boys (looked 10) in camo jumped in front of me. Moved them back and told them, "No way".
Start to first turn is a mess. Dodging and darting around kids, adults, and adults trying not to run over kids. Have the mine field cleared by second turn at 0.17 miles. All four Ridge Rider (RR) guys, K-Wheel, and HS kids in front of me. Joe P. leading. Stride very awkard from all the weaving, so take a few steps to get under control. Start picking off HS kids on straight. Get by the lead girl just before the next turn at 0.35 miles. There is still seven people in front of me and we head into a headwind for the next 0.23 miles. Feels like we are moving fast, but there are so many still ahead of me that I cannot let them all get away.
Front four (3 RR guys and K-Wheel) open up. I move closer to fourth RR guy and two HS kids. Appears he is trying to help them with their pacing and tangents. Pick off the first of the remaining HS kids about 0.90 in. Approaching first mile split and I hear, "51, 52, 53...". Whoa, we're movin'. (Mile Split 5:53 -- Going to pay for this later, but right now we're racing. Party on.) Last HS kid falls back at turn just past first mile split. Next up is RR guy.
I pull beside him at 1.20. He's breathing harder than me, so I move ahead. We make the next turn and he surges coming out. Gets a few steps in front of me, then falls back. Then he surges again. Few steps ahead and falls back again. Is he trying to get me to surge and blow myself up?? Here he comes a third time. This time I relax my body and breathing, go into cruise control. I'll make him think I'm not running hard at this pace. He does the same thing; few steps ahead, then falls back. Then a fourth time! We make the turn at the 1.44 mile point. Don't see him again. One block, and then another turn into the wind again for almost half a mile. This was brutal. Focusing so hard on running, I prepare to make the next turn one block early. Catch myself and try to pull it back together. Hit mile split and offical gives me 12:14. (Garmin has mile split at 6:20.)
Into mile three all alone. Can see Chris C. ahead. 45-60 seconds maybe. Good shape for PR. Fast first mile probably shot my sub-19 out of reach. Notice I'm running on wrong side of road, switch. Pickup turns onto street heading toward me and hugging my side. Glance back and switch sides again. Move back to other side when he passes...dang it, am I trying to make this a 6K?
Next to last turn onto street / parking lot, start to pass other runners coming the other way one block later. Have locked in with about half a mile to go. Chris C. has not opened anymore on me. Get to about 0.20 from finish line. Have not heard last alert. Too far out for sub-19, but gonna kick for lowest PR possible. (Mile three split 6:23 -- Held pace!!) Finish it off in 0:46, but Garmin had distance at 0.14 miles. Kicked it in running a 5:38 pace. Course a little long, both on Garmin and by plotting on map.
Final time 19:22. A 0.12 second PR. 5th OA. 1st AG. Trophy over a foot tall...cool! Joe P. wins again with a 17:36. Steve L. second. Less than 100% K-Wheel right behind in 3rd. Slight gap, then Chris C. I was about a minute behind Chris C. Short chat with Steve L. after walking briefly past finish line, looked back and 6th place was still on the course.
I've got more in me. Burned a lot of energy getting around people at the start. Had to have lost seconds later in race by running too fast of a first mile. Long course (or maybe poorly run tangents), regardless there was another 10-12 seconds. Can still do better. Sweet day!