Notes
Well, not great and a good 25 seconds slower than last year. Overall I am ok with this though as my training for the past 2 months is nowhere near what I would want. My goal was sub 13 and I wasn't sure if that was even a realistic goal.
So I get there and the first person I ran into was the kid from the Haverhill, MA track team I edged out in the 5K. I teased him a little, talked a little smack and then warmed up with him and his brother. I felt tired all day but feel a better after my warm up.
The race starts soon after. I line up in the third row and try to hit a 6:30 pace to give me a shot at 13:00 flat. Much to my shock, I actually hit this pace for the first quarter mile. It feels comfy and I pass the kids from Haverhill and never saw them again during the race. I settle in behind another guy and hit the mile mark at just under 6:30. Remembering the mistake from last year, I pass the guy who had been pacing me for the last half mile or so to get some clean air for the bottle neck back to the Ghost Trail (He won the 20-29 Age Group). With 3/4 left I try and pick it up one gear. I pass one more woman and see another further ahead. I eventually run her down with only about a 200 yards to go thinking to avoid another chick'd photo at the end. They ended up being the 2nd/3rd overall female finishers. I knew Kara Haas would be no where in site, 11:15 yikes. 12:44.1 is my official time. Made my goal by 15 seconds. Foot feels a little worse this morning but not bad so hopefully it wont cause any setbacks.