Notes
Today's race was a PR by 6 minutes exactly. The weather was not perfectly favorable, we had winds at the start and finish and it was defintely cool at the start and finish but overall the main chunk of the race was inland and it was very pleasant there. I was really unsure what to wear at first due to the temps but I settled on my CX insulated tights which where a little warm inland but felt good in the windy and cold, I was using my grey and black NB socks which felt good. For upper I settled on UnderArmor Metal insulated top and NB pullover. I was going to go with the jacket but super glad I did not as it was not needed. I double layered on gloves and only needed one set and wore my Swix hat but that came off most of the race as I felt overheated.
I took a little water, maybe 1 to 2 sips at the first three water stops around 2,6,8 maybe and passed on the fourth. I took one GU about 20 minutes before the start and another at mile 7. I do think the one at 7 really helped. Without it I think I would have zonked.
I must have stopped my watch instead of hitting the lap button because about 6 miles in the watch stops so I don't have splits to show.
The race overall was a struggle from the start. I was very aware of the effort and energy I was using to keep pace. It was not a race where I was able to distract myself and think of other things and let the miles pass by. I was concentrating the whole time on keeping the pace up and the feet moving. I was pleased that it seemed I stayed pretty well on pace the whole time. I am sure I had some splits faster and slower then others but overall it felt like a rather consistant pace. After some of my runs this week I think this race went much better then it could have and certainly better then I thought it was going to go as I was not thinking I was going to break 1:35 much less 1:34.