We stayed with Clyde and Mik'L this year which was fun for us. I wasn't worried about this year because it had already sucked so bad that I figured anything decent would be a highlight. My goal is always to break 2:30 which will happen next year, if I can get back to 100% health, but I knew there wasn't a shot this year. I figured I was in enough shape with my 1000 mile year, no speedwork to speak of, and one little race that I could still run between 2:35 and 2:40. I would have loved to run with Walter and Greg but I knew they were way ahead of me and I would only slow them down. So I figured I would just go out and see how I felt and whatever happened happened. I didn't do great with my splits but I'll show what I had just for future reference. Mile 1- 6:02
2- 6:10 3-4 11:43 5-6 11:38 7-8 12:42 9-10 12:54 1:01:11 at the 10 mile mark
11-12 13:08 13-13.1 6:56 1:21:16 at the half
13.1-14 5:14
15-16 11:22 17-18 11:49 19-20 12:19 2:02:03 at 20 miles
21-22 11:55 23 5:49 24-25.2 13:03 25.2- 26.2 6::05 Last 10k in 36:55 Not much to say really. I was alone from mile 1 until I saw Dave drop at mile 18 or 19, then I caught 4 more guys in the last 10k. I lost a lot of motivation to push just being out by myself the entire race, and you can see where I was lazy. The kicker for me was that I got screwed on planting my drinks on the elite tables which cost me time and more time because of not getting what I needed. At mile 7 I stopped to get my first GU and they didn't have it at the table. I could have used it too. When I got to mile 11 to get my drink it wasn't there either, by this time I was mad and even said a few choice words I probably shouldn't have. A little bit up the road I saw my bottle empty and on the road. At mile 15 again no drink, empty bottle on the road. Mile 19 no GU, packet empty on the road. Finally I got one of my five plantings at mile 23, but by then it did me no good. Some scum was taking my stuff ahead of me, probably some reject that didn't plant anything themselves. I was so mad it was probably good I never found them. I was hoping some volunteer would tell me what number was taking my stuff or that I would come up on somebody in the act but it never happened. I let the race directors have several ear fulls when I got in. I was and still am in the mood to drop the scum that was doing it. That whole deal put a damper on the whole race for me. I was counting on that stuff to help me out, and the thought that someone was taking it and didn't care how bad they screwed whoever's stuff it was made me furious. The good thing is I still drug myself across the line before 2:40. It was a good day to run if I would have been in condition to race fast. But there is always next year. Seeing Walter, Greg, Marcie, and Josse do so well made me happy too. It was fun to see Clyde and Logan drag Paul across before 3 hours too. I still ended up 20th overall and 3rd in the age because of the weaker field, but I''ll take those places weak or not. The weekend was good. I saw a lot of good friends, had a nice time, and I finished with a respectable time and place for a rough year. I am not going to hang it up and do ultras, I'll be back and faster than before.
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