Oh well, I guess a strong mile one week doesn't translate to a strong 8K the following week. This 8K trail race has some pretty good hills and more big gravel than I recalled from last year. Started out right on my desired 6:55 pace, but I worked the hilly 2nd mile too hard and still only mustered a 7:23. Cruised the 3rd mile in recovery mode at 7:18 and pretty much fell into survival mode for the last two (7:24, 7:10 pace) - not a good day, but the 36 flat overall time is a minute faster than I ran it last year, so thats something. Travis raced the 5K and took 5th overall in 17:40ish (the 8K and 5K were run concurrent, so I didn't see his finish and he wasn't sure exact time). He is still in motivation doldrums and did not have a good run. He now has two weeks to snap out of it before the first official XC race. |