Notes
The last 3 1/2 weeks of training leading up to this race just about went perfectly, and this race was going to show it. This was only going to be my 2nd race of the year and I wanted to make it a good one! I got there ~8:15, picked up my packet and warmed up w/ ~2 miles worth of running. I got to the starting line just 5 minutes before the start and saw Tom (one of my old running partners) among some other people I knew from my years of racing. I got asked a couple times what I thought I would run and I didn't want to say - in my mind I had
Best case scenrio - 16:20-16:40
Realistic - 16:40 - 17:00
Bad Day - 17 +
Well I got going and the weather was perfect, I ran in shorts, longsleeves, stocking cap, and gloves. I wore my racing flats.
I did a few drills and strides and the race was about to start.
It started out a little fast (as always) there were a bunch of 16-20 year old kids running out in front, I settled in and got behind Tom. I let Tom lead me through the first mile, I thought I was in the 5:15 range for the first but I ended up with
5:27
Second mile started off with me chasing after the 3rd place runner who was ~50 meters ahead, I finally caught him during a long stretch of road and ran with him down the hill to the sewage area. We started to do the climb where we hit the second mile
10:56 (5:29)
I was pleasently surprised here, at this point I knew I could run a sub-17, after the first mile time I was a little concerend. I started the acent up the big hill and slowed up a bit, I got passed by Greg and 2 other runners, at this point I was running in 6th place. I knew I could catch them after the hill, I just wanted to concerve a little up the hill... Once up on top I started cutting away at their lead, I caught up to them ~1/4 mile after the hill and started to put a lead on them. I really wanted to pick up the pace so I wouldn't have to worry about them catching me in the end. I started running around the park, slowly picking it up all the way to the finish line, I came in unchallenged and ran in at
16:36 (5:40)
This felt really good to see! 3rd place overall - not too bad for only 3 1/2 weeks worth of training :)
Cooled down with Julian and Larry Loebach and had some good conversations with people from my past :)