Cccc-cold morning for the Robbie Burns Roadrace in Burlington, ON.
Temp around -15C (according to a pixel sign on the route), light winds from the west which didn't help as we turned into it for the last 3k.
I had a fast run (for me!), completing the course in 40:56. Went out waaaaay too fast, trying to weave and dodge into open real estate in the first three kilometres. I was close to 15 minutes for that interval, but was decidedly slower in the second half of the race.
I'll need to think more clearly about strategy and timing in a race pack as the spring moves along. I set my watch for 5:24 pace per kilometre, but found myself running much faster than that once the field thinned out. I couldn't maintain that pace, and found that I'd dropped about a minute per kilometer by the time I was within sight of the finish line.
Lots of folks passing me at the end, and although I relaxed, breathed more deeply and tried to "grin and bear it", I was hurting a little bit.
Glad when I got across the line. And inside for hot chocolate and hot oatmeal! Yum.
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