Bolder Boulder this morning, my first 10K since 2011, I think. Goals going in were Top 10 and sub-32. Race started and everyone goes out super-crazy. Probably had 10 guys in costumes out ahead of me. Amazing these guys qualify for the A wave, but gotta love it. I tried to stay at a reasonable pace and not get sucked out. I spent the first 3 miles moving up in position, was probably 20th after 1 mile, 10th after 2 miles, and pulled into 5th by Mile 3. Even with supposedly trying to stay patient, I think I got out just a touch too hard. First three miles were 4:57, 4:59, and 5:05. Was 15:32 at 5K, and I could feel it. Stayed in touch with the back of the lead pack through 5K, and then the top 4 guys pulled away a little bit. I ran by myself for Mile 4, which was 5:12. The 4th place guy fell off the pack, and I started reeling him in during Mile 5, although I was struggling too. Mile 5 was mostly downhill, but I could only manage 5:00. I got passed into 6th place somewhere in here. I knew the last mile was an uphill to the stadium, and based on how I was feeling, I knew it would be a struggle. And I also knew that guys were coming up on me, so that gave me some fine motivation to give an honest effort. I finally passed the guy ahead of me that I had been reeling in, but got passed myself by a couple other guys. Entered the stadium, and could feel another person breathing down my neck, and gave it everything I had around the last curve and into the finish. Managed to hold off the guy behind me, and almost caught (or re-caught) the two guys ahead of me. Mile 6 was 5:13. Final time was 31:32. I thought I finished 6th, but ended up 7th upon looking at the final results. Guess the last mile was kind of crazy, so lost track. But I was 1 second out of 5th, and 6 seconds out of 3rd...if my ability to close a 10K was just a little better, I think my placing would have been higher, but I'm not really that kind of runner anymore. Pretty happy with this time...I think can count this as my "uphill altitude 10K PR"
| 