Race day. Woke up all night with anticipation. Got up at 4:40, did 2 miles to warm up and get the bowels loose. Ran to the finish line and rode to the start up the canyon, then 2 more miles warm up. Perfect conditions- just under 50 degrees, with a very strong tail wind for about 2 miles out of the canyon. Lots of runners, including many bloggers (Logan, Paul, James, Cody, Walter, etc). I hoped to break my PR (1:15:35). Here are the miles:
1- 5:32 (felt good but I was worried it was too fast)
2- 5:46 (relaxed- running with Cody)
3- 5:45
4- 5:33 (caught James and Walter)
5- 5:28 (not sure why I was feeling so good, but I let it ride)
6- 5:20 (fastest mile this year, including workouts)
7- 5:21
8- 5:33
9- 5:43 (Hollow road- I was really hurting here and could feel my 5:20's, but knew 6:00 pace to the finish would give me a PR)
10- 5:46 (started feeling a bit better at 10.5)
11- 5:58 (uphill and tired)
12- 6:09 (uphill and tired)
13- 5:35
0.1- 0:33
Walter and I were duking it out from mile 4 till the end- he was ahead 15 seconds, then I got 10 seconds ahead, then we ran the last 3 miles side by side. Both pushing very hard, wanting to beat the other. We saw someone gaining on us at mile 12 and were wondering who it was- it ended up being Logan, who took a wrong turn. I got a few yards on Walter with a mile to go and beat him by 5 seconds for 3rd place overall. The time- 1:14:07, crushing by PR!!! One of the better races of my life. Plus, I have never placed lower than 3rd in this race (3rd, 1st, 3rd) and continue my streak of 3rd place finishes this year (5 of 7 races).
Overall I was very happy with the race, and I think many other people were, too. Good race. I think I am on track for my marathon goal in 3 weeks as long as I can keep running on my foot. 3 mile cool down.
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