AM - warmup up of 2.1 miles (Cumulus) ran up the last section of the course - came in handy later.
race: started up Cedar Canyon - knew this would be a fast course and I could go for a PR, but I had some doubts as to how fast I could actually run it - knowing a big PR was possible but much quicker than I had ever run. Got to the starting line with the club (minus Clyde) and things looked good until I saw Jow Wilson (past St. George Marathon champ, 3rd to Paul and Steve at Ogden last month). So I decided to run as far as I could with him and try to do well.
1 - 4:43 started off at a blistering pace. But this is where I wanted to be. I was really amazed at how relaxed Joe was. This was going to be fun.
2 - 4:49 It seems I am working way to hard to hit these miles. Even though this was fast, I felt like I was struggling too early in the race (Looking back, I think I could have run an even better time; first with confindence, second because I actually wasn't feeling that great - achilles was still acting up, ankle hurting some, and sloshy legs).
3 - 4:56 Joe and I pull away after the last surge from some high school kids (they didn't ever fully go away however and ran great times as they kept pushing me from behind).
4 - 5:07 Joe pulls away from me at the end of this mile and the doubts begin to creep in.
5 - 5:30 Where I really lost time on this mile was the first part when Joe was pulling away. He had really encouraged me to keep up and once I drifted he took off. Because of this I really fell back and started to relax. But I just kept Paul's new blog title in my head and got back on track (Thanks Mr. Groening!) I actually couldn't keep it out of my head, it was kind of funny.
6 - 5:25 I kept Joe at the same lead through this mile and tried to finish strong.
.2 - My watch recorded the race as just a little short (but others had it very close) and I ran .13 in 29 seconds (near 4:00 pace)! I saw the clock ticking to 31 and I was in as full out sprint mode as I have ever been as I pushed to keep it under. My watch read 30:58 as I crossed, but I guess I had better take the official time. (ohana)
Anyway... Pretty stoked. I was hoping for a time near that and got it. Fastest time as an old guy by 2:40 and best ever by 1:30 (even with a fast course, I'll take it). The best thing was running with Joe Wilson. I was like a little kid in awe. Here is this great runner and I am hanging with him (near him). Very cool.
Cool down of 1.2 miles (Cumulus 391.4)
PM - got out for a 4 mile stretcher on Warm Springs (Glycerin 425.35) | 