AM "15k" Trail Race in Southwestway Park near Indy. These are always fun - trails are a nice departure from punding the pavement. Got there early enough to get some easy miles in. Ran most of the course, with several bathroom stops - 7 miles - 1:01:38. Race start was as crazy as I thought it would be and not as many near the front as I thought. Me and a group of about 5 go out together. About 0.1 in to the course it turns in to single track. One of the crazies up front, who was dressed up in William Wallace costum (I'm not kidding - this guy had half his face painted blue and a kilt!) bites it hard and totally wipes out. Definitely highlight of the day :)
Anyway, me and 2 other guys continue on, both of them in front of me. As we round down in to a gulley and the trail widens out, I feel like a pass is on order. So, I made sure to blow by both of them and put the hammer down on the nasty climb that follwed. Only one of them stays with me. At some point at one ofthe wierd tunr spots where we don't know where to go, he passes me back and leads for a while. We run "together" for about 4.5-5 miles before I begin to notice the pace slacking. I sit on him and let it slack for 0.5 miles or so and then blow by him. He doesn't respond and I hear his breathing get further behind me.
Solo for last 3mi, or so, and in to the finish in 1:01:09. GPS 8.77 miles makes it about 7min avg. TH effort for most of the race (where the second place guys wasn't leading).
2.44 miles CD really slow.
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