Notes
Temp 82 (Heat Index 88) Wind 7 mph. Humidity 79% Dew Point 74 degrees.
Registration swelled to over 250 during packet pick-up last night. Grows this morning to 300+ (325 per RD's post-race web post). Amazing! Real testament to this family: "This 5K Run/Walk is to raise money for Pediatric Brain Tumor Research at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford University. We do this in memory of Sahara "Hoops" Aldridge, who lost her life as a result of a malignant brain tumor." Today would have been Sahara's 16th birthday.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Hoops-for-Life-5K-RunWalk/127408453942825?filter=1#!/pages/Hoops-for-Life-5K-RunWalk/127408453942825?v=wall
http://www.semissourian.com/story/1557113.html
As expected, less than ideal conditions. I'm going "foreign legion" this morning. Wet bandana soaking in ice water goes under hat prior to start. Shannon clears way in front for all sub-21s...there's not many takers, not today, not on this course.
Start with small climb and drop on Perryville. Next is the big climb up Perryville, then left on Bertling. Crest the last of the hill about 1K into race. There is a pack of six that has already ran off and left everyone. (Hammer and some of the area's top HS CC kids...Brandon S., Billy and Roy L., Lars M. and Eric S. Don't think one of them is actually entered.) As best as I can tell, I'm in a group of 5-6. More HS kids, myself and Joe W. JW is working with his HS pacer Brandon B. again. Rest of pack has dropped.
Take it easy on down hill with sore ankle. Feel my bandana bouncing off my ears. Its dried and is already warm. Hit first mile split at 6:19 running in 8th behind JW and BB. Back on flatter terrain and find stride. Left on Old Sprigg and I run a perfect tangent closing most of the gap. Pull ahead of both about 1.5 miles into race. Position temporary and they retake me on next small climb. Road makes an extended reverse S curve. Again I run better tangents and retake them on a straight flat. Hit next small incline, and again I fall back. Pattern emerging. They open on hills, maintain on downhills, but come back to me on the flats. Bad for me, rest of the way is hills. Second mile split is 6:26.
Hit left on Lexington just past 2.25 miles into race. They've opened about 5 seconds. Look up at top of hill and Lars has fallen back from front pack. Rest are out of sight. Gap widens as we climb and a HS kid goes by me around 2.50 mark. Small drop, then finish off second hill on Lexington and turn back into Kiwanas Park. Second HS kid goes by me shortly after turn. Third mile spit is 7:00. Finish with 0:37.
Finish time is 20:23. 10th OA. Hammer wins race running a bullseye on his goal. JW is 1st 40-49 in 20:05. I'm 2nd AG. Other seven in top ten are HS runners. Expect all to qualify for state. Look back after finish and there is no one. Taylor V. shows up about 40-45 seconds later.
Another SM / Ghisallo sweep. Hammer OA, JW, myself and Schmiz take 40-49 AG awards. Wife and youngest son walked course. They had a blast with Toni and Hannah. Nice touch after awards with group shout out to ""Hoops" and singing of Happy Birthday. Got some nice pics for the scrap book. Cool award. Shannon did great in his rookie attempt as RD. Looking foward to another hilly heat-fest Tuesday night, then maybe a chance to get back to some real racing in Ste. Gen in a few weeks. Plans after race sound fun also. Life is good.