my makeup may be flaking

Course was a bit more difficult than I anticipated, so I'm happy with the result. 2 seconds faster than seattle RNR and about 1 minute slower than labor day half (completely flat).

I started out in the 3rd pack for the first mile. My breathing was high but I guess I had a lot of adrenaline because I felt very relaxed. I briefly thought about trying to surge up to the second pack, but we hit a small hill just prior to the mile and it got a little harder. Reached the mile in 5:42 in a group of about 5 with another large group at 5:27 (I could hear a volunteer yell their split).

Almost immediately started to lose ground in mile 2. We turned on to the express lanes and we hit a slight climb that started to go on forever. Eventually I caught back up to couple of people who had dropped me. Missed mile 2 but mile 3 was about 17:45, meaning I had been over 6 minute pace for those two miles.

At mile 3 we went up another hill and emerged from the tunnel into the concrete canyon of I-5, which was a bit weird. Again missed my split for mile 4, but mile 5 was 29:26. This was my predetermined point to start pushing as the course suddenly gets easier. Unfortunately mile 6 was only 6:13, which seemed way wrong as it was almost entirely downhill and I had pulled away from everyone in the 3rd pack.

Then things got back on track with a 5:42 mile 7, so I figured that 6 was long and 7 was short. I could see one guy ahead of me and passed him up with a 5:50. But then it got hard to stay motivated, as I couldn't see anyone ahead of me. I just decided to cruise a little and save myself for the final 5k. 5:56, 5:58 for miles 9 and 10.

The race really starts at the 10 mile mark when you have to climb up Stone Way. Unfortunately, I had very little strength left in my legs. Managed a 6:35 for mile 11 going straight up hill. But the kicker is the climb just keeps going, it was probably 1.5 miles of uphill by the time I crested the Aurora bridge. When I did, I found it hard to get moving again and so only managed an 11:57 for the last two miles (which had some climbing but was a net downhill). 34 seconds for the finish.

I ended up almost 1 minute behind 10th and almost 2minutes behind 9th, although 12th and 13th were hot on my heels at the finish.

Weirdly, this race gives me more confidence in running a good marathon as I felt pretty relaxed knocking out those sub 6 minute miles in the middle of the race.

Afterwards I had enough energy to run back up Aurora to my house.

Was planning on doing a small workout today, but I don't yet feel recovered from the half and I don't want to risk a dumb injury.

Return to the winter grand prix after a 10 year absence.

A tooooooooon of high schoolers were there, but most of the open runners were tuning up for club nationals next weekend so I was one of the few people up front over the age of 20. Race started fast and I was in a bit of oxygen debt but felt comfortable. Was in  about 10th at the first turn, but moved up to 3rd about .75 in.

Nick Dejarlais (who is not in HS, but a freshman in college) took 3rd back from me, but we had both lost a ton of ground to the leaders. At the mile the leaders were 5:06/7, Nick was 5:12 and I was 5:15.

Couldn't make up any ground on the second lap, but held of what sounded like a ton of HSers coming from behind. 5:15 for the second mile also. A great result for me, equivalent to 16:52 5k, 4:53 mile. I love this distance and I wish there were more races.