Sweet. It started raining and gusting wind to 40mph about 30 minutes before the race, but luckily it let up just before the start and although we were wet, it didn't slow us down much. I was not properly tapered though, so I think I am currently capable of 4:49. With a 14.4 mile trail race 3 days ago I can't be fully cardiovascularly recovered and I can still feel some soreness in my calves and my left quad. And I might have been a bit faster if I had someone pushing me in the last lap. My splits were pretty much straight 73's with the first 73 counting the extra 9 meters. The first lap I was boxed in and bedoukian was leading. But that was good because the first lap is always easy and if it isn't then you are in serious trouble. Then in the second lap the guy in lane 2 boxing me in fell off and as the pace was steady 73 I kept my position behind bedoukian. Then in the first half of the 3rd lap the pace started lagging and because bedoukian always accuses me of kicking him out in races, I made my move in the front straight with over 600 meters to go. I had to really sprint a bit to pass him because he tried to edge me out for lane one a bit. That might have helped my time, but it also might have hurt it as I started to really feel the lactic acid at that point which is a bit too early. Then in the back straight I really started to feel the lactic acid all over but I managed a 73 as my 'kick' lol. But I guess if pace is even and effort goes up throughout its just about perfect. The turnout was a little pathetic. I was the only one wearing spikes although many people were at least wearing racing flats or track racing flats. This was the first race I have worn track spikes, and they felt good. Im not sure if they helped, but perhaps 1 second difference. They made the turns and changing speeds slightly easier. And I think that in the rain they gave me more of an advantage than they ever will again. I think they would help more in a more tactical race. But will I ever do a tactical mile race? I am not good enough to run on a school team. But I am starting to think. If I could get good enough to train with the brown cross country team next fall (so unlikely) it would be a dream come true. The thing is, if I could get my weight under control. I bet I could. If I got down to 140 or 135 (160+ now) then I would be fast enough at least to train with them.
Bedoukian came in second in 4:57, breaking 5 for the first time. He claims that he will never run the mile again, but I think he will. If he continues to gain fitness how can he resist racing when a PR is assured.
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