Notes
Temp 47 (45) Wind 5 mph.
More of a novelty run than race, and a surreal feeling that I should have been in bed hours ago. But here I am standing on a starting line in CG and talking to Schmiz as we look over the field. We agree that Paul S. will be the one to beat. Ironically, he is late stripping off outer gear as BK gives instructions and does not make it all the way back to the front line before "go".
Fairly typical start. Early 40s (actually 40 on the dot) guy I do not recognize (Josh Hogan from Chicago, IL) pushes to the front. Medium build and efficient form, but takes terrible tangent off Jaycee Drive onto Optimist Drive. I take the inside and the lead, then attempt to find my stride out Lions Way and past the Conservation Center. Think I may have pushed the early pace a little fast. Half mile alert just past turn in Kiwanis Drive. Only at 6:06 average, so midnight effort feels much faster than it actually is.
Out Kiwanis, then right and south on Optimist. Hear Paul S. coming and he finally makes his way to the front by about 1200 meters. Expect him to move on, but instead he just parks off my right shoulder. Ask him if there is anyone behind us and he does not think so. Wrong. Josh H. runs right between us and into the lead just past the first mile split (6:13).
Continue on Optimist, then onto the trail which is not lit. All three of us slow down considerably as depth perception is lost. JH leads by about 10-15 meters and PS is with me until past the two mile split (6:23) on Hawthorn Alley Road. We had slowed down even more on Hawthorn Alley Road as the duplex shadows provided even less light than was available on the trail.
PS appears to make a push towards JH as we come back into Arena Park and pass the Conservation Center the second time. I discover where my training is as my race pace fitness runs out at 2.30 miles. PS unable to catch JH and I go ahead and try to put myself back in the mix. Catch back up to PS as we run along Kiwanis. He edges me to the right and into the cones and ultra runners coming the other way. Spend a lot of energy having to bob and weave until the next right back onto Optimist. Lose touch with PS again as I have to slow down to take a wide turn around a barricade and course officials.
PS makes another push towards JH as we approach Expo Way. This time he is successful and grabs the lead for good just shy of the three mile split. Appears my fate is sealed for 3rd OA as JH is still looking strong and PS stronger as he pulls away. Hit mile three split with a 6:14.
Start to smell blood as we are heading NW on Optimist Drive now and back towards last turn and finish on Lions Way Drive. Into the wind and that must have finished off JH. He slows immediately and I close. Nab him right before turn and beat him to the tangent. I am gassed and figure he will out kick me, so decide to make him earn it. Never see him again and actually start closing again on PS beginning at the 4-H shed 0.03 from the finish line. Wrap things up with a 0:47 for last 0.14 miles (5:38) pace. Better than expected third mile and kick. 2nd OA and Seniors Division Champion with a 19:36. Not being sarcastic, but honestly feel for the guy who came all the way from Chicago, has the race won at three miles, but ends up 3rd OA. (PS - 19:31 / MoBram - 19:36 / JH - 19:45)
Midnight run and undertrained, was thinking I could still pull at least a 19:45 tonight, with best-case of 19:30. If I had not missed the recent training time, think I would have won it. If I were two years younger, think I would have won it. (About 5% age-graded better than everyone.) Solid, even effort (with pace only slipping due to darkness on the course) throughout with strong finish. All things considered, appear to be in a pretty good place four weeks out from Charleston. Not a great place, not a bad place, but a "good" place. Very little, if any, tweaking of original training plan necessary.
My CBEM contribution is turned in, now handing it over to The Hall of Famer JT and CBEM-in-training BS. Expecting big things in St. Louis this morning at the St. Patty's 5-Miler as we attempt to hold the fort until the captain returns.