Hurricane River Trails 4 Mile. 24:12 AM - 11.5. Got a little warm up in and felt pretty good as far as the leg was concerned. I really didn't want to set back the tendonitis for this run, but at the same time I did want to get the run in. I was also really worried about my fitness - I had been in really good shape, but three weeks of stagnation and trying to overcome injury could spell trouble in a short race that requires some speed. I hoped that I could be within 2 minutes of last year's win when I was in very good shape (and not get killed by Mike!). Started off and I was having a lot of trouble breathing - I just hadn't pushed very hard at all in a long time. So I just stayed behind Mike, Steven, and Nephi (a Hurricane kid). We came through the first mile in about 5:21. When I noticed Nephi starting to struggle I got next to Mike and told him to give a push and put Nephi away (nothing like telling the competition they don't have a chance before the season even starts!). Coming down for mile 2 we were around 5:30 - maybe a little slow, but I didn't know how much of anything I would have, so I never red-lined it at all during the race, plus the downhill was tricky - very steep and rocky. Pushed by Steve somewhere in this mile. It was fun running just behind Mike. I kept giving him advice and urging him to keep the hammer down - and he did! We had a strong mile 3 until the big hill and Mike gapped me a bit - mile was somewhere around 6:30. Toward the top of the hill, I noticed that I was closing on Mikey a little, so I thought that if I could give it a little push in the last half mile then who knows. Bt then we went over a little rise after cresting the big climb and Mike suddenly doubled his lead and then went on to break my course record from last year by about 10 seconds - little turd! I hit the last mile in 6:30 or so (Garmin wasn't set on mile splits, so I am just tying to remember times at around each mile). It was great to see Mike run really well. I can handle loosing to a kid like that for sure. And I was pretty pleased about my effort, just 20 secs off last year; and most importantly, the leg didn't hurt - just a touch on the cool when my calf was tight. Steven ran very well and James hit a very solid time as well. We got a 2.25 cool after. (NB 101 546.75))(Stratus black 1014.95) Week was mostly good. Got a few more miles and a couple longer runs in - including pushing a little in the race today. Goals for next week: I am going to bring back a few doubles and of course keep working to get the leg all the way better. | 