Perfect day for my first Viking Fest race, and it went just about as well as I could have hoped. There's a reason this is one of the most popular races in Kitsap County. I met Mike and Tracy early and we carpooled to Poulsbo, found parking and had an hour or so to kill. We walked through downtown once, got our numbers, used a bathroom and Mike and I jogged a mile or so. By the time we were back at the start it was pretty packed for a local festival race. The starter said 750 were pre-registered, and I'd guess another few hundred paid day-of-race. So maybe 1,000 in the crowd, which is pretty cool for a small town run. Beautiful morning, sunny and clear and pretty warm (probably 60 at start time).
Some fast names though, guys I see around all the time (or at the top of local lists). So I was hoping to hang with a few of them. The North Kitsap XC team was also at the line (although they must have been the guys who didn't qualify for district track meets, so it wasn't the young fliers). The race begins with a nice two-block slight downhill, and we took off quick. A guy named Todd and I led the pack at the first turn (Todd's known for taking the lead like that) and we led a pack of five through the first mile. A 5:17, so I knew we were doing this for real. The pack of five separated a bit after that mile, with notorious two top guys pulling away. A group of three of us stuck together, and watched one other guy move in. I settled into sixth at maybe the two-mile mark, after a 5:40 (or so, I cleared my watch so I'm going by memory for splits 2, 3, and 4). The course is really nice through those miles, for 1 and 2 you look out over Liberty Bay on a slightly rolling course, then 3 and 4 are through a wooded neighborhood that doesn't have much incline at all. I held my position through those miles, watching 4/5 and keeping them within range. I was pretty proud of myself for doing that, mentally it's not always easy for me to keep contact. But I really wanted top five, and hung in there with two more sub-5:50s.
We hit mile 4 and I had #5 in sight, still maybe 6-8 seconds up. I just couldn't get a surge that would gain significant ground. I knew a hill was coming, and planned to attack him there, thinking maybe he wouldn't know it was out there. His form was drooping a little and he was glancing back, both I took as good signs. Numero four I could see, but he wasn't going to be touched and still moved really well.
After my watch hit 3:30 or so for the split we found the hill. Sure enough, #5 wasn't ready for it. A steep little burst of a hill, but not nearly as long as I had mentally prepared for. So I rushed him there, pushing pretty hard with what I had left, and took him right at the crest. I could see the turn to the final stretch there, and started my kick. Left the guy and cruised through the last minute or so, hitting 5:38 for the final mile and soaking it up down Front Street, which is a quaint little Norweigian stretch that gets lined with people. Kind of like an old Scandanavian person's Mardi Gras. So I nailed fifth place, came in just over 28, and really enjoy the race. Mike was top-10 also, and fellow Slug Henry was really pleased with his time. We hung around and talked to some people but didn't get any cool down miles, choosing to get away from the crowds descending for the parade. (More disappointing than no extra miles was missing out on a Viking donut from Sluy's bakery, or the Sons of Norway pancake feed.) I went straight to the Bremerton High track after the race to help out with this youth track team I'm involved with, and ran an 800 with a 10-year-old girl who I'm going to turn into a distance runner this summer. Then I did yard work for four hours. I'm going to hurt tomorrow morning, I can already feel it. But, totally worth it. What a day. Now, in a few weeks, something a little longer.
supernova glide -- 140
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