Warmed up pretty well, noticed just before the race started that my shorts were inside out, quick adjustment. There were some strollers right at the front line--because of pictures? I'm not competitive right now but if I were I would have been annoyed by that. As it was we got off and somehow the police bike went around some plastic barriers that were right in the way. Everyone was going around them, I went through them trying to open up a barrier, I knocked one of them down and heard some surprise behind me, sorry, but I hope I at least opened up a path for some. People were passing me and I others until I reached Mel, I told him I was running too fast to be up with him. That was true.
The first slightly uphill mile I just stayed with Mel, had a few passing us, was 7:37 at mile (?) seems a little long, especialy since I ran 14:15 for the next 2. Let Mel go and he later admitted to feeling bad in the first mile and better the next two. Was trying to think of tempoing first 2 miles, but it's always hard, felt like I played cat and mouse with a few runners, had a few women, some preteen boys and some men around me, pushed the last mile into the park trail, the sun gave its heat on mile 2, about 3 runners I was trying to catch, was strong but not competitive. Last .1 was 45 seconds, 7:30 pace ;-) yikes.
I of course want to get better but in recognizing how I've been as a runner I tend to always look forward rather than enjoying the moment and the process. I took a year getting out of shape, it'll take a while to get back, but I'm enjoying the process, I recognize I'm in it for the long haul, and the rewards will be worth it. Like life it's an ultra, not a sprint. Just so, with eternity in our hearts.
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