I really should have written this closer to the race because now I have little motivation to recap the results in detail. I have to hand it to Riley and Bryant for going after it and both running 2:16s. Also good to see Kotter get his first sub 2:20, Metler running another 2:19 and Ben getting a big PR.
My race was a mixed bag. On the one hand I am happy to finish 5th amongst a stacked field but on the other hand I felt like I had a decent chance at sub 2:20. I ran the first 7 miles with the leaders (Riley, Bryant, Kotter, Hawks and Metler) who but all Hawks beat me in the end. So considering they all beat me handily (minus Hawks who back off with a calf problem) it obviously it doens't appear wise that started out that fast. I would estimate that may have cost me at most 1 minute. I did let them go when they charged up Veyo then I was in no man's land for the rest of the race. I went though the half feeling good about my time (1:11:07) because a 2:08 negative split didn't seem out of the question. I held onto the pace through 21 or so then I just didn't have the legs to finish fast. Minus the first year I race this race in 2009 I have never run over a 3 minute PR which I think is how you need to run this race to get a fast time. Patience isn't my virtue :)
5:26,5:26,5:05,5:07,5:11,4:58,4:59,5:53,5:52,5:33,5:52,5:35,5:20 = 1:11:07
5:22,5:08,5:04,5:16,5:12,5:35,5:20,5:05,5:27,5:20,5:26,5:34,5:46 = 1:10:38
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