Last year of twenty for this race and my third. I skipped it in 2012 because every time I run this race I feel like I'm balanced right on the edge of breaking something. This year has been slow enough for me I just didn't care and felt pretty strong anyway the last few weeks. This is just a fun race, a different kind of run, one that is all about just letting it go for a few minutes and killing yourself.
The start seemed a little slower than usual. Maybe that was because Teren wasn't taking off at 4 minute pace. The first mile came by at 4:33 and it helped me relax since I didn't think I could get that turnover this year and it felt all right. I caught up to Walter which was my main goal today. I told him before the race that I would finally give him a master's challenge in a race even if it killed me. So when I passed him I knew I had to keep close to another 4:30 mile. I think mile 2 was 4:35 and it was all about windmillling arms and controlling the descent. By mile three the blisters set in and the legs started losing it so I had to slow 10 or 15 seconds a mile, but oh how much fun it was flying down the canyon this fast! I couldn't hear anyone behind me and I could see the guy ahead gapping me so I just hung on.
Well over 35 seconds slower than the last time I ran this but a great run for me this year. Post race barbeque with everyone was awesome. Spent a good hour in the hot tub. One of the few races that my whole family loves since there is so much to do after. Lots of fun staying up at the deserted lodge and getting out for a hike in the morning.
It's fun to look at this course and consider the downhill and pace. The Master's world record for the 8k was set in 1993 by John Tuttle in 23:35. Every time I run this I think about the fitness it would take to run this fast on a flat course. Crazy.
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