Last race of the Winter series. Finished 4th master overall (1st age). Series awards bumps so Master 1 and 2 moved to overall winners (1 and 3) and I became 2nd Master (awarded a running jacket).
My fitness level is close to a few other master runners at the series (Chad, Sasha and Dennis). I was able to stay ahead of Sasha and Dennis for the 5K and 10K, but both are much better distance runners and easily beat me in half and full marathons., so I knew the 15K would be very close.
Mile 1: 5:56. Sasha was running with Chad and both took off very quickly. I followed Bill who measured/certified the course. Sasha and Chad were already several seconds in front
Mile 2: 5:58. Running with Dennis and a few other younger runners. Sasha and Chad extending their lead
Mile 3: 5:56. Still running with Dennis and Sasha/Chad extending their lead
Mile 4: 6:02. This mile was easier, but Dennis had surged ahead and Sasha had lost contact with Chad, so Dennis was going to catch and run with him
Mile 5: 6:03. Dennis and Sasha running together 6 seconds ahead. Chad was almost 30 seconds ahead
Mile 6: 5:58. Caught up to Dennis and Sasha and envisioned a finish line sprint
Mile 7: 6:11. The pack slowed down and we caught another runner. It also appeared that we were gaining ground on Chad. I was disappointed in this mile, but once we caught up to the younger runner, Jon he began running harder and speeding up the pack
Mile 8: 6:04. Our little masters pack started to break up some as I went with Jon
Mile 9: 6:03. Jon put in a good surge to gap me by 10+ seconds, but I was still racing Sasha and Dennis who were just a few seconds behind
Mile 9.33: 2:00/5:45 pace. Ran hard the last 0.3 in an attempt to hold off Sasha and catch Jon. Jon crossed several seconds before me and then a few seconds later Sasha then Dennis.
Planter's Peanut man was at the finish giving out high fives--funny. It was a good race for me and a 15K PR thanks to Sasha and Dennis. Chad easily won 3rd master (beating me by 32 seconds, but I didn't lose any time on him the 2nd half of the course), with Melchor 2nd master at 52:19 and Teren 1st master and overall at 49:56. It is hard to believe that Melchor ran almost my exact same time last year and improved by 4 minutes! I helped out at the 15K awards while the MC prepared the series winners. Lots of 80%+ age grade finishers this year.
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