Keeping on track with incrementally speeding up my half marathon pace. I ran a 15K at the beginning of January at 7:11 average pace, a half marathon in mid-January at 7:09 average pace, and now this 10 miler in mid-February at 7:00.
A PR by definition - I've never run a 10 mile race before.
Overall the course was flat - most of it along the 101 in Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Encinitas. I lived in this area of San Diego for 5 years and ran this route probably 100x - so it was kind of my home course. There was one mile that had a longish hill - made more difficult by the wind. Most miles were right at 7:00 or just under - with the hill mile (mile 6ish) coming in a little bit slower. I ran the last two miles fast - 6:35 and 6:45. I passed 11 people in the second half of the race, continuing the trend of strong finishes in my 2014 races. It was another negative split.
I spent a lot of the race with my eyes closed - as documented by the race photographers. During the early miles, I was closing my eyes and telling myself I was in control of the pace and I could keep it up. In the late miles, I was closing my eyes to dig deep to stay at those fast paces and not get repassed by anyone!
Weather was very foggy at the start and then the marine layer burned off by mile 2 or 3. It was actually pretty warm - and there was a coastly eddy wind coming off the ocean to deal with.
Race organization was really good - same quality as RnR race series but with the same price - $85 entry fee. This is the second in the "10/20" series (10 miles/20 bands) - the other race is in Austin. Owner of race was an original founder of RnR. The prize money was $3K for first male and female, bringing out some fast elites. First place male was 48:00 and first place female was 54:49.
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