Ran the Hurricane Half race this morning, pretty pleased with my race overall. I ran 1:19:55 (6:06 average) The biggest thing was the fact I took a minute off of my time from last year and we were running in much worse conditions this year. We had a pretty good headwind for much of the race. Steve Hooper and I started off together and pretty much helped each other the first 9 miles surging and trading postions to draft in the wind. About halfway down the steep hill into La Verkin Steve started to pull away and put some distance on me, I closed a little on him the last two miles, but he beat me by about 30 seconds. Clyde took 2nd to Glen Tucker and also ran faster than last year while still recovering from Boston, and Bill was the 3rd in the Master's Division, so all in all a pretty good showing for the club. Here are the splits 1-6:09- slow, still warming up and dealing with the wind, some older guys went out ahead of Steve and I 2-5:59- I told Steve we need to pick it up a little on this mile, since it has some downhill, pass one of the older guys. Still have Clyde, Glen, and a guy from Northern Utah up in the lead pack
3-6:11 Still dealing with the wind, we've dropped another older runner who was drafting off us. 4-6:14 5-6:16 took a little gu here, since I knew we would have a water stop ahead and the next 3 miles are a gradual uphill
6-6:21
7-6:30 Steve and I are still just crusing along 8-6:04- Start of the big downhill. I was just getting into a groove really enjoy my ipod and the music playing, when the dumb thing died. I slowed way down and tried to restart the music, but no luck, low battery or so it says, turns out I had plenty of battery, but didn't find that out until after the race. Anyway probably good to run some of the race with no music and trying to be more focused mentally. Steve really picks it up on the downhill and leaves me to eat his dust.
9-5:29-Steep downhill, pounds the legs 10-5:43 11-6:18 Just pushing along down Main Street La Verkin! Steve is about 30 seconds ahead 12-6:35 some uphill into Hurricane 13-6:00 a good last mile, felt strong coming into the finish, and felt like I could have probably kept going a little further, completely different feel from last weekend in Ogden. My garmin measured the course right at 13 miles, so just a little short. Overall happy with the day, and the improvement from last year, had a nice massage after the race
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