Notes
Temp 64 Wind 10 mph.
Good spot on the starting line. Nice temps, low humidity, will just have to deal with a little wind at the start and finish. Solid group up front. Hammer, Bryan K., Travis C., and the Arkansas crew (Steve L., Chris C., and Brian A.) are here! This is setting up to be a whole lot of fun. Off at 2:00 p.m. sharp. Hammer out front quick until some 19-year old goes blowing by everyone. Was in first place for about 800 meters running what had to be close to 5:00 flat pace. He was in 7th place by 850 meters and ended up finishing in 27:46. Would probably have had a more enjoyable afternoon had someone tied him up and pulled out his fingernails with a pair of plyers.
Hammer back in control after 800. A HS bandit is in chase with Brian A., SL and CC following. BK has laid back with me (OA winner last two years, coming back from health problems, claims to be here to run 18:30...more on this later). BK passes me and begins to move up last half of first mile. I am in 6th place at the first mile split. Go through at 5:48 (there was a clock). Lead pack has sucked me in. Feel bad that I may have pulled Travis along, but when I'd looked back to say something to BK at 800, did not see any other runners behind us.
Back to work on mile two and try to ride the tailwind and hold something near the first mile's pace. Knowing it never ends well, I'm not big on banking time early in a race. Rather, lock in on form and attempt not to burn too much energy before having to do battle with the headwind in mile three.
Did OK until I heard the Garmin alert at 1.5 miles. Mentally drifted at this point and slowed too much right before the turn on Main Street. After turning, got a little caught up in watching BK make a move up towards the HS bandit and as part of a surge towards Hammer. (Dude was sandbagging with that 18:30 talk...he's here to win.) Lost precious seconds in this segment of the race and did not hit the second mile split until 11:51 (6:03).
Took today's only look at Garmin. Average pace was still 5:57. Good enough for my National Class time if I can hold pace into the headwind. Doubt myself to hit time goal, so switch thought gears and reassess my OA position. See that BA, CC, and SL have not got too far away. Move to Plan B and decide to go after whoever I could catch.
BA has fallen back. May have an outside shot at CC. SL is starting to gap the other two. Surge and overtake BA mid-way down Byrd at about 2.25 mark. Start to tug on CC. Right turn on Virginia for brief relief from headwind. Still trailing until we take different sides of the boulevard on Virginia (him left, me right). Finally catch up to him as we turn back onto Commercial for the last 0.60.
Know that (1) he ran River to River yesterday, so his legs are not 100%, and also know that (2) he has got a hell of a kick. We run together for several blocks matching surge for surge. Offer to let him draft off me since "he has the tired legs" thinking that maybe I could dictate pace and he might forgo his kick. He declines saying "all's fair".
Cannot put him away and I have emptied the tank trying. He then starts to make his final push just shy of three mile split. I have nothing left to go with him. Go through third mile split at 17:53 (for a 6:02 mostly into the headwind). Excellent work as I have moved up one position and beat the wind to keep my national class time in play.
As I try to kick, realize that my trashed back is numb. Not holding it together too well and from seeing the race pictures, I was all over the course. Somehow manage a 0:35 for last 0.11 for 5:19 pace. Official Chip Time 18:28.
5th OA. 1st In AG. Age-Graded Time = 80.52%. First National Class Time on certified course. Course PR by 0:08 seconds. Still getting faster (or smarter -- ran my best tangents since the course was re-certified thre years ago) with age...not sure which.
Top 5 -- Hammer 17:26. Jewel of a win for CBEM co-founder. Don't know if I have ever been happier for him to get a win in any other race. BK (17:53), SL (18:00), CC (18:21), and me (18:28). So cool to see my name on the results sheet with these guys. BK is 35, but the other four of us have a combind age of 188 years. BA is sixth (18:46) and Travis 7th (19:26).
CBEM goes one and two with age-graded times: 82.60% and 80.52%.