Goal was to beat last year's time, which was 1:24:18. If nothing else, I knew I would at least get some really good miles in today. I love this race because it is so organized (joke), and I love the course. I know exactly what to expect on this thing. Splits: 1-6:06 Right away I'm running with no shirt guy
2-6:09 3-6:23 Still no shirt guy, me, and red shirt guy. We are picking off a few people, but I can't believe how much better I'm liking running in a group.
4-5:56 Feeling pretty good still and making our way onto the path.
5-6:31 Our group of 4-5 has dissipated. No shirt guy drops back and red shirt guy made a move. I should have went with him. It would have been a bit painful, but I think it would have helped me in the long run. I'm running solo for pretty much the rest of the race.
6-6:23 7-6:49 Make the turn on to the old highway and there is a really good headwind. Mentally, I think this is where I would have benefitted from having people to run with while going up the hill. Andy-where were you this year?
8-6:45 Hit the turnaround and realize Melanie B. is about 15 sec. behind me. Dang she's fast.
9-6:50 This is where things turned bad. We go under the freeway and I have to pee real bad. Red shirt guy is up on me by about 35 sec and I have a couple guys about 15 seconds behind me. The first bathroom is locked in the campground, so I run to the next. I probably lose about 45 seconds and a good rythem (spelling??). Last year I ran this mile in 6:16. Looking back, this pee stop kills me.
10-6:28 11-6:33 Running with another red shirt guy and hoping we can push each other, but then he surges and gaps me by about 20 seconds.
12-6:45 Holding on.
13-6:37 Wanting to walk..............but I don't.
.10-0:52 Finish in 1:25:11. Overall, I'm not too disappointed. It was a good race. I got some very good marathon pace miles in and fought through some rough patches. The pee stop killed any chances of finishing ahead of last year's time, but what do you do. I should of hit the bushes as that would have been faster. The only disappointment I have is that it feels like I've stalled in my progression lately. Hopefully the marathon from two weeks ago is still in my legs and that is one thing to blame, but I need to start doing some training miles at a faster pace. At Hobble Creek I'm going for 1:20 right from the start. I may bonk and end up walking the last 3 miles, but oh well. Good run today overall. PM Lifted for 45 min and did the elliptical for 15 min.
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