AM: 13.3 miles total w/ Brooksie Way 10k in 37:48
Signed up for this race as longer race prep for the Detroit International Half at the end of October. Times have been pretty slow in previous years with an occasional 34' or 35' winner thrown in. The course had some hills (360 feet of gain), so I figured that would be a good fitness indicator, particularly given what happened at Beach to Beacon.
The weather was perfect. Upper 40s and no wind. I managed to get in a decent 35' warm up with some strides and one ~2' interval at race effort.
We got started late because the race crew permitted two women to start the half marathon almost 20 minutes late. How this was able to happen I have no idea.
The 5k and 10k were together and I could see two motorcycle escorts, so I figure I would have to wait until the split to see where I was. I started out about 7th or 8th in the mixed group but I think I lead the 10k from the start. I started passing people after the first 2-3 minutes and I think there were only two people in the 5k ahead of me. There were some gentle downhills and one steep downhill on gravel in the first two miles. Toward the end of mile 2 is a significant uphill that I was not prepared for but ran it quite well. Around 2 miles or so I was catching a 5k guy and could see a gentle downhill section where we split and I could see the motorcycle cop waiting. Guess that means I am leading.
I felt really good at this point, especially knowing that going into mile 4 I had a good downhill but a decent uphill at mile 5. I felt strong and smooth, which just hasn't been me lately. I had to run a bad tangent going into the halfway as they had the timing mat on the opposite side of the road. I caught some gentle inclines here and there, which really helped to recruit different muscles. I hit an 180-degree turn after a right-hand turn and started back out to the roundabout during mile 4. At this point I could see guys coming the other way but knew they couldn't catch me. Going into 4 miles I was around 23:52, but somehow I added too much distance as I was running 100m over.
We wound around campus and I tried to keep the effort honest. I felt the best I have in a race in quite some time, and the motocycle helped to give me something to focus on rather than staring at the ground. Going into mile 6 I started to work a bit but didn't feel like I was 100% @ 10k effort. The finish is slightly uphill and my legs didn't want to turn over much, but I had a decent finish.
The course is certified, but you are prevented from running tangents, particularly late in the race when the slower 5k and 10k runners are where you need to be. I lost close to a minute overall, which always pains me.
Strava Splits as I didn't take any: 5:43, 5:47, 6:03, 6:03, 6:16, 6:08, 5:43 (for the partial). HR 171.
Cooled down for 3.2 miles. Megan and I had a beer. Megan also ran and did well on a challenging course. After we went to brunch at HomeGrown Brewery in Oxford, where I had been after a gravel ride with the guys back in July.
PM: 18-mile ride at Paint Creek. HR 110. Just kept it very easy and enjoyed the fall air.
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