Notes
Warming up and see someone I think I know. Introduce myself to Marc Keys pre- race and we chat a while. I ask him what he is looking to do tonight and he says hopefully break 12 min; I assure him that will happen and he asks me what I am looking for time-wise. I state I am going to attempt a 11:30 run and he says he will be watching me from behind and good luck.
Fast race with some good young talent in the front with Brandon. Pretty much stay in 5th position entire race except for brief period coming up final incline toward finish line.
Hot start and first mile in 5:42. In 5th place at the turn around. Have heard someone right behind me since start of the race; ends up being the women's OA winner who, Brandon tells me just ran a 2:47 marathon and is an aspiring Olympic trials hopeful if she can drop another 3-4 minutes.
Am already feeling it at the turn around point and know I am for some pain. Feel myself slowing with 900 m left and trying to keep the turnover rolling. After turning on main road and right before start of final incline the girl pulls up to me; I tell her good job and she moves by me. I think about it when and she gaps me by about 10-12'; At that point I say hell with this and hit a final "hill strider" and blow by her to finish strong and save a bit of self-respect.
Good race by both of us even though our tactics were not the best. A 5-7 second slower first mile probably would have helped me out a bit on the back half but it is what it is. Not complaining about shaving 93 seconds from the current 54 y/o 2 Mile State record.
Talk to Marc Keys a bit more after the race. End up hearing Henri Coeme's name when he gets his 2 Mile award. He sets his 4th consecutive 2 mile MO State record with his run. Still rolling along in his mid-60s and still sub-13 min runner. Also met and spoke with Rod Phillips, 70 y/o wonder who ran a 14:58. Nice guy.
Looking at the 2 Mile MO records: 12 new guy's records fall at this years Sweatfest race. Also, the woman that finished right behind me set the MO road 2 Mile record with a 11:38 time at 38 years of age. Everyone is getting in on the 1 and 2 mile racing action.
2nd MO State record for Brandon and, even better, he is now getting the fire back to race and train again so looking for big things from him in the next 12-18 months.
3rd MO State record for me at this point. One in the 12K and two at the 2 Mile distance. I feel pretty good about this one and it may hold up for a while or may be broken in December. Hoping to keep up the quality training, stay healthy and take a crack at a few more distance records in the future. Looking at guys like Henri Coeme, Rod Phillips and others in their mid-late 60's and even into their 70's shows me it is possible to keep grinding it out and, they all look like they are having a blast doing it.