Notes
2017 GBTC XC Festival 5k @ Elm Bank Park, Wellesley. 14th o/a / 7th GBTC.
First XC race of 2017, a real rust-buster! Expectations were fairly low after 2-3 weeks of low mileage and pretty low quality, but after Tuesday's workout I knew I wasn't totally out of shape. Was hoping to see 16:XX at the end of this one but still o.k. with the outcome. I felt pretty uncomfortable from the start, but convinced myself that that was okay and after being conservative off the line I surged through the second half of the first mile. Kept it rolling as we came back by the start, hanging off the pack of Big/Medium Eric w/ Nick O also in sight ahead. Got into a relaxed but good feeling pace on the upper field, then the wheels came off over the final mile in the woods. It was extremely rooty and I had a really hard time keeping my momentum going, definitely settled a bit too much. I had an okay duel with some rando, but lost the Erics and Daniel Lewis also came by and blew my doors off. CRUSHED by Steve MF Hammar.
It was okay, a little disappointed that I couldn't hang tougher in the last mile but I think it's just a matter of fitness at this point. I choose to believe that SPAC is a faster course than this and that running the same pace for 8k at the end of the month is achievable - we'll see!