Notes
Temp 38 (30) Wind 14 mph.
RD says 322 registered. Most appear to be on the line. Field includes fast set of 35-50 year olds, some HS runners which include all-staters, and a group of D1 women from MSU in Kentucky.
Bit of a surprise at the start as front runners take off slow and field still shakes out rather quickly. At half mile point, I’m in a group with Joe W., Schmiz, and a couple of HS kids flip flopping the 9th to 12th OA positions. Andy J. goes by our group as we turn onto 3nd Street. On down the road and lady calls out our first mile split at 5:47. She’s way off. JW has us just under 6:00. My Garmin has 5:58. Group shakes out to me and JW as we turn left onto Main. AJ has opened about 20-30 meters and stretching.
Will now be looking at 15 mph cross-headwind for 1.25 miles. Still not settled in. Finding my form, then losing it again as I increase turnover. Remember after the race how many times I altered my stride to stutter-step or stretch over cracks and bumps in the pavement. Way too much focus on that, and was failing to keep my head up. Second mile split slows to 6:03. Still push pulling with JW.
Start to notice the wind more as we come out of the residential area through downtown; more so as we move out of the business district. Legs feel the first signs of fatigue at 2.25 miles and start to slow. JW opens some, and has moved up to Brandon B. and another HS kid about 20 meters ahead of me as we make the turn onto Dame Avenue.
Now running face first into the wind with a field on our right. Nothing to block it. See JW slip in behind BB. Other kid out to the side. He starts to fall back, and then slips in behind JW. They are too far for me to survive a surge needed to get to them for cover. Will have to take the beating.
Left off Dame and back onto 5th Street. Wind at our backs now. Less than a quarter mile to the finish line. JW blows by BB. Other HS kid passes him next. I regain stride and pass him also. No resistance as he had been toasted by taking the wind at the front of the pack. JW is gone, but pull up even with other HS kid. LA takes my legs for good, and he eases on ahead. Through 3rd mile split at 6:16, and finish a wind-aided 0.1 in :0:34 (5:40). Clock time of 18:51. 10th OA.
Hammer wins the OA in 17:30. Taylor V. second about 0:15 second back. Some kids and AJ (18:32) and JW (18:35ish) round out the top ten. Schmiz is 12th.
Hammer also takes the Age-Graded win with 81.65%. I move up to 2nd with 78.24%. Schmiz is 76:59%. TV, JW, and HSers in 74%-75% range. Hammer’s OA win gives me the 46-50 AG win. AG win and 2nd OA Age-Graded are two small consolation prizes for slowest 5K since August 2010.
Assessment…probably a decent 2-miler right now. For sure not ready for primetime in Charleston just yet. Work to do. Back at it bright and early tomorrow morning.