Turkey Trot at the Bangor Naval Base in Silverdale, I did this one last year also. A few guys from the Slug Club were heading out also, so it was a team thing. I had an off week because I've been at work a lot and running other errands that have kept me up late, but I figured I could still do alright.
Better weather than a year ago, when it poured, and we had cloudy skies and 50 degrees or something. 200 runners there, but the competition wasn't as good as last year, I could tell at the start. Other than the Central Kitsap High XC team, I didn't recognize anyone from other local races. I started out with two other guys, let the high school kids take off and set a pace. 5:44 for the first mile, which has two short downhill stretches, and then I left the two guys with me. I was a little conservative on mile 2, figuring I'd make sure I could finish strong. It continued downhill then started to head back up as you near the 2-mile marker. A guy from the Slugs caught me there, and I hit 2 with a 6:10. I was a little lazy on 3, I have to admit. Me and Henry got talking, we still had a decent pace but he usually doesn't stick with me, and I should have known I was slowing to stay with him. Back up the first hill and I started to push a bit because I could see two of the XC runners. I started to make a move on them but then hit the bigger hill and lost some momentum. I caught one of them on the track at the finish with about 75m to go, and he pulled away, then he slowed and I caught him again with 10m or so. But I couldn't quite get around and finished on his shoulder. I took 5th, and first for my age group. Time was about the same as a year ago, so I would have liked to have been 10-15 seconds faster (plus that would have given me 3rd place). But oh well, it was still fun and I did enjoy running with Henry for that mile and pushing him. He was pretty excited with how he ran. Didn't win a turkey in the post-race raffle, that was the only real disappointment. One mile warmup and one mile cool down. My legs felt good afterward, I still have some hip stiffness that's hanging around.
supernova red -- 75
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