Notes
3k Time Trial on the track, for the top 8 guys prepping for regionals but coach thought it would be good for me to hop in as well. Less than ideal conditions, cold and pretty windy. Expectations were super low, didn't really have any idea what a track race would be like since we really haven't done any fast work in a long time. My goal was just to hang onto the back of the pack and I figured that I would get dragged to a performance I was happy with.
It worked out pretty well. Went right to the back and settled into what felt like a reasonable pace. My goal for the first mile was just to be as relaxed as possible. Somewhat difficult, because it was a quick first lap (70) and so the rest of the race was more or less trying to hang on. Stayed right behind Steve for the entire time, by 1600m the next group in front of us was pulling away which is a move that I should have covered but I wasn't really ready for it mentally or physically. I was just content to hang on Steve and get dragged to a good time without trying to make any big moves. Last 800 was tough and definitely not too fast but I felt reasonably good, started to kick hard from 200 out but Steve turned it on halfway down the curve and I couldn't get him.
Splits were roughly: 70, 73 (2:23), 72 (3:35), 74 (4:49), 72 (6:01), 82 (7:23) ???, 9:14 (1:51)
I think the splits for the last 1k might be off, but the rest sound similar to what I heard. Honestly although I evidently fell off hard in the last 1k, I felt reasonably good going through 2k close to 6 minutes. I definitely think that I should be knocking on the sub-9 from the beginning of the indoor season. I think that even at today's fitness (xc training + base training), if you took it indoors I could have been under 9:10, and that I should make some big gains just by doing specific track work and getting re-accustomed to running at a fast pace. Very excited for the indoor season, and still plenty of time to build lots of fitness before then.