I woke up this morning and felt like there was a freaking stress fracture in my left leg. So I jogged about a half a mile in the neighborhood before laving to drive to the race. It felt like it maybe needed to loosen up and it would be fine. Fortunately, it did just need to loosen up and work itself out. Anyway, the race was a good one apart from the weather - a little warm but very humid. Didn't wear my watch for this race because of how my leg was feeling as well as the heat, so no splits. 3 guys take off from the start line not to be seen again until later in the race. Me and a couple of the Crossroads Race Series regulars, Nathan, and several others that I don't recognize are in the chase pack. By mile 4 or 5 it appears as though the pack is down to 3. Then the only climb on the course and I began to fall off of the other 2 (they actually sped up I think :)) So around mile 10 I pass one of the early leaders, mile 11 another early leader is walking as I pass, and mile 12 the guy who was way out in front for the first 7 or 8 miles is noticeably limping as I pass - cramping issues I discover. I'm surprised as I approach the finish and see that I can get under 1:25 - I feel as though I have been much slower in the last 5k, but it turns out that the guys I was running with until the climb were speeding up. So much for stress fracture :) My leg feels fine. I jog back to the mile 12 water station for a beer! :) (after chugging some water/sports drink) -- great cooldown strategy ;)
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