Notes
Temp 47 (43) Wind 6 mph.
Ideal racing conditions. Cloudy and cool; however, only 20-some odd on starting line. Less than half of how many showed up last year when it was 70 and sunny. Co-RD announces there is a new course and its exactly 5K (he tells me after race he walked it several times and measured it three different ways: wheel, pedometer, and GPS watch). Is what it is, but I've already ran it several times to plan my lines, and I can run this course in 3.05 miles...and that was before knowing I'd be able to cross the creek once each way without taking the bridge detour.
The new course is flatter; however, there are 12 (six out and six back) walking trail foot bridges with 90° turns getting on and getting off. All those, plus the 180 at the turnaround. I have eliminated one bridge, but race will still be a series of surges, slow downs, turns, and speed ups. As one elite racer would say, "Course is a cadence killer".
There's a new kid in town. Former assistant XC coach and shoe salesman. Friends consider a "real runner". Been liking everything about this race on facebook. Regardless of his participation, think my performance will be all on me. Start to finish, will run hard when I can, slow down to turn when I have to, and let the clock be the judge.
Downhill start. Younger kid goes out like a jack-rabbit. Did the same thing last year and did not work out too well for him. "Coach" decides to ride my shoulder. Bad plan. Leave him around Adams Street about 400m in. Chase the jack-rabbit into City Park catch him right at the 1K mark after the first creek crossing. Game on for a solo 4K.
Full Mile Splits -- 6:28 / 6:30 / 6:23. Only average 7:10 on my kick as that included two sharp 90° turns and a steep hill to the finish line. Clock Time 19:33. First OA. Coach shows up couple minutes later for 2nd OA. Jack-Rabbit rolls in at 22:24. May have went out too fast???
Not a certified course, but age grades to 79.71% (16:17). First race as 57 year old. Second fastest 5K, only by 0:02 seconds, since November 2016. Have 2018 OA wins now at 5K, 15K, and HM. CBEGM keep piling up the OAs as we creep closer and closer towards Medicare.