Well I did a race. I ran it hard but looking back at last year's race report for this one was almost in the exact same mind set. The fact that I smashed that time and felt MUCH better after doing that is a great sign. As is the consistent theme in my life work and sleep have taken a toll on the training but the stress levels have significantly lessened the last week. I think that has helped. The more positive the outlook the overall better things get.
I ran to the race start and then met up with another Adam (ACorn) we did a little extra up the canyon. There was a nice tailwind coming down. The start was very crowded this year with a number of people up there that should have been a bit farther back. I was fine lining up in the second row because I honestly had no idea what I had in my legs today. They started a few minutes late after a bunch of teacher/principal photos but it was an ok start 50 m in. I was content to stay in the third pack for the first 1/2 mi. Since I had just reread my race report I knew my splits from last year and wanted to stick with them as close as possible or whatever my body would allow me. Coming around the corner by the Post Office I was happy to see my three girls standing there cheering me on. My wife got a new camera as a late Christmas present and was happy to get some really good pics.
Mi 1: 5:16.73 HR 178 about 3-4 seconds faster than last year and felt good. I just went with it from there. There were two groups of three people ahead of me going onto foothill and I really wanted to catch the chase pack. By the turn onto Sunnyside I was catching them just as ACorn was passing me. I attempted to go. Mi 2: 5:14.73 HR 185 about 18 seconds faster than last year and still felt easy. Now this last mile is where I crashed mentally last year. I was feeling much better and believe it or not my breathing was not that labored. I was catching up with another of the high school guys and wanted to get him before the track. I pulled alongside and he had pretty good support along the course and people started cheering for him to get me back. That helped me and I pulled away going onto the track.
Mi 3: 5:10.38 HR 188 about 16 seconds faster than last year, my HR tells me I was pushing but it felt good.
However with about 300m to go I just didn't have the racing feeling. Same as last year??? Three guys went to pass me in the final 150m. After the third one I had enough and finally mustered a "high school finish" to pass him back before the line. I wish I would have hammered the track but just didn't as much as the people passing me. My family had jetted down Sunnyside to beat me to the track and were
there to cheer me on. My wife got an awesome picture of me "flying" down
the final stretch. 
0.1 M: 0:28.17 HR 191 Final time 16:07 (Chip)/16:09 (Garmin) ~40 seconds faster than last year! NEW PR! Both wind and grade aided but hey I'm in my mid-30s, I'll take it... My girls were adamant about running a race so afterwards we did a loop on the outside of the track. They really enjoy the excitement of these events...
In the end I am super happy with the time. I was glad to get to chat with ACorn, Steve and a former BYU track star whom I'm embarrassed to say that even though we did a cool down together I'm blanking on his name right now. I'm still not sure how to get my competitive edge back but I think having run one of my fastest times ever with negative splits the entire way better get some confidence back!!! After the race took the girls hiking for a little behind campus. Now unfortunately off to work. Have a great weekend.
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