C Mantz Running

I may have run more that 13.5 today, but at least 13.5. Anyway I had a two mile shakeout in the morning, ate a big breakfast, then waited til we left. Warmed up about 2-3 miles and then got my spikes and did strides. I started out on our back line and was near the back(probably in the last 20 or 30). Nice thing about this course is that you can take the turns as wide as you want, so I got on the outside for the first few turns. I was with Zac and Jake at this time. I could rory about 10-15 meters ahead of me and knew that if he was back this far then he was being patient and the front pack wasn’t dropping it at the beginning. Eventually I caught up the front group at about 1.5 miles. I just stuck on the shoulder of Clayson and Garrett Corcoran. When I went to take the lead it was windy so I just waited. Somewhere around mile 3 McMillan took the lead and led with Clayson. I was feeling pretty tired after a mile, but just tried to focus on staying with the pack. McMillan, Clayson and I were all in the lead with a mile to go. Then Danny, Aaron Templeton and Paul Roberts passed Clayson and myself, I stayed in fifth and was hurting. I just stayed with the group. With about 600-700 meters to go Paul made a move and the group dropped me. I tried to finish strong, but they all put about 5-10 seconds, so I must not have kicked well. 

Overall this was a good race. It was pretty fun, but also humbling because the time wasn’t what I was hoping for or imagined that would come(the course and conditions were near perfect) so I think I just need to continue working hard. Cool down to the giant mural of Christ (also known as “touchdown Jesus”) and around watching the open race.