I started the day with a nice 5K. Having practiced the newcourse, I had hopes that I would make it to the top intact. The race started off and I got right to the front of the group behind a high school kid. All I wanted to do was get to the top of the hill in the yellow and at the front. I did it! I was pretty tired though and people started slipping past little by little. Then as we crossed 1600 North the lead pack took off and I could not respond as I was already at a 5:20 pace. Mile 1 clicked off at 5:42, really good for including the hill! I was still pretty close to the front but had little oomph for the uphill upwind .5 miles. I lost ground rapidly, but as we turned north on Main street I could still see the front people. I got to the top of the hill and there was enough to turn on downhill monster! All right. I got down to 4:30 pace on the steep downhill, and managed to average 5:30 for the last mile, passing 3 people to take 13th place.
I ran home quickly because I told Curtis I would pace him in the Squaw Peak 50. I passed him in my car, then parked and enjoyed a very pleasant and leisurely 7 mile jog up to 7600 feet. Then I blazed back down to my car. Love the aid stations, they are awesome with sausage and 6 different beverages and chips and M&Ms. Then I ate at Cubby's.
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