I kept moving my goal down as I approached this race. Sub-19 seemed silly given recent fitness gains and workouts. 18:30 seemed reasonable, but after I looked at my speed work I decided it would be tough, but that I would take a crack at the 17-minute mark even though I have never run a sub 6-minute mile and nothing under 19 minutes.
I was darn close today. Warmed up 3 miles, dynamic stretches, then some more running with several strides for 3.6 total. Gun went off. The first mile is flat with a slight downhill and a 180 degree turn around at about .9. By the clock I hit mile 1 in 5:48 (5:51 on my Garmin). Then slight uphill, enough to cost me some seconds from the pace I was on. The clock at mile 2 was either 11:43 or 11:45. I remember the last two digits being close but less than the last two digits of the first mile split. So mile 2 5:58ish by the clock (6:01 on my watch). I could tell I was at the right effort, but having to work a bit. Across the bridge and down the river trail. Passed by the track (anyone for some 400s after the race?). Kept pushing. Didn't see a clock for mile 3, but Garmin said 5:52. I tried to go by the person who won the woman's division, but I was promptly crushed. No one passed me though (well, not anyone already behind me). I could see 17:53 on the clock and I tried to kick harder, but I didn't have much else. It was going by 18:0X when I was just nearing the timing mats. Managed to hit 5:19 average for the partial. Caught my breath and snagged a cookie and a water. Thawed my hands and got my results (18:06) inside. I found my throwaway and cooled down on the canal trail and around Military Park for 3.6 miles. I fell in front of some folks on the canal trail. I suppose these things do happen. PM: 4 miles, no watch
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