Travis opted for catching up on sleep this morning, so I was on my own for the race. Learned this morning that the start/finish is one of the highest points in Tallahassee - great. Garmin tells me that from the start of the 3rd mile to the finish line we gained 110 feet, most of it from about 2.5 to 2.75 miles. I knew about that part, but didn't fully comprehend the hilly second mile. We started at a middle school and made a couple turns to the top of the downhill at about 300 meters in (out and back course, so this is the uphill at the end). I planned on 6 flat for this downhill mile and went through at 6:02 actually holding back a little. The next mile had a few turns and one 100 meter uphill section that I found myself working way too hard on, so I backed off a bit. That was what killed my shot at sub 20. I figured 6:20 for the second mile but went 6:44 as I conserved a bit for the last uphill mile. Halfway up the steepest part of the last hill, I was really creeping along when I saw the stoplight at the top of the hill. Finally had something to shoot for so I snapped out of it and ran pretty tough on in to the finish. Expected a 7 flat 3rd mile and ran 7:05. I passed a couple guys on the 3rd mile and nobody went by me, so thats something I suppose. I finished 20th overall and the top 25 got cute medals. Travis' coach took the masters win, and there were 2 or 3 other masters in front of me - will update with official results when I see them. Did about a mile warmup and then a half mile cool down with coach for the total 4.5. |