morning - I decided to do this race for my hard workout for the day since the Steves got me in free and it was hard to workout the ride up to Central for 20 on the course. My goal was to just make it a solid workout, whatever that meant - and hopefully get a continued better feel as I approach SL in a week (yikes!) Met up with Steve, Bill, and Clyde for a run on the course before the race. It was going to be a hard, hilly bugger. In a way I was kind of happy for that because I don't feel I can run that fast right now anyway. (Landreth 66.45)
Got back just in time to do the quick last minute race adjustments and then we were off. 1-5:25, Clyde established early control, and it seemed as if I felt okay and would just run in 2nd throughout (which is apparently just my destiny!), but this was the first solid under 6:00 minute pace I had had since being sick. 2-5:21 included the 2nd climb of the race (the first was up around the elem.) This was a tough hill up past the park, but then a great downhill which I would have loved to burn up. 3-5:36 A bit of fatigue, but nothing major. The flattest mile of the race. Worried a little about being caught. 4-5:40 Still running pretty good as we turned onto the highway. My form felt pretty good throughout the race. 5-6:22 A mother of a section. Uphill throughout with a big hill by the golf course maintenance yard. I run this section all the time on Junction, but this was the first time I raced it. At one point I looked at my watch and my pace was 7:23; I thought, "I am in a RACE and am going 7:23 pace. Oh boy..." 6-6:02 Tried to get back on pace as I topped out on the hill, but the wind held me to just 5:40 for the last .5 of this mile and I could quite bring it back under 6. .2-(.16 on watch)52 secs. (5:24 pace) Just finished it on in at a solid pace. (Ohana 6.2)(new pair - felt great) Grabbed a drink and talked at the line for a minute and then Steve, Clyde, James, and I ran the course again and 7:30 pace and then finished it off with another 1.2 to hit the 20 mark. (Landreth 73.95)
Felt good enough about the race that I will make an adjustment to my goal for SLC. I am going to set it at 2:40; maybe a little ambitious, but today's run was solid and it made me happy to run a little better.
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